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Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2010  with  funding  from 

Open  Knowledge  Commons 


http://www.archive.org/details/reportonsanitaryOOpenn 


REPORT   ON 

THE  SANITARY  SURVEY 

OF  THE 

Allegheny  River  Basin 


DEPARTMENT  OF  HEALTH 

OF  THE 

COMMONWEALTH   OF  PENNSYLVANIA 


HAEKISBURG,  PA. 

VVM.  STANLEY  RAY,  STATE  PRINTER 

1915. 


a. Ci 

T3^ 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 

GENERAL  INTRODUCTION,    1 

PART  I. 
GENERAL  DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  ALLEGHENY  RIVER  BASIN. 

INTRODUCTION,    3 

1— AREAS  OF  MAIN  TRIBUTARIES,   5 

2— DISTRIBUTION  01'  RAINFALL,   5 

3— CHANNEL   SLOPES,    7 

4— DISTANCES ,    7 

PART  II. 

STREAM  FLOW. 

1— FLOODS  AND  CONTROL,    10 

2— MEASUREMENTS, 12 

3— RELATION  OF  PRECIPITATION  TO  RUN-OFF,    33 

4— RELATION  OF  FOREST  CONDITIONS  TO  RUN-OFF,  34 

5— RELATION  OF  FLOW  TO  SANITATION  AND  WATER  SUPPLY,  35 

6— RELATION   OF   FLOOD    CONTROL   TO   NAVIGATION,    36 

PART  III. 

NATURAL  RESOURCES:    DEVELOPMENT  AND  EXTENT. 

1— TIMBER,   TANNERIES,  AND  CHEMICAL  PLANTS,    .../ 37 

2— SOIL   AND    AGRICULTURE,    43 

3— COAL   AND    COKE,    44 

4— IRON  ORE  AND  STEEL  MANUFACTURE,   48 

5— PETROLEUM   AND   NATURAL   GAS,    50 

6— CLAY  AND   CLAY   PRODUCTS,    52 

7— MISCELLANEOUS   MINERALS   AND    PRODUCTS,    53 

8— WATER  SUPPLY,  POWER  AND  TRANSPORTATION,    54 

9— FISH ,    55 

10— RAILROADS,    56 

PART   IV. 

THE  SURVEY  IN  DETAIL. 

1— SOURCE  TO  POTATO  CREEK,   57 

2— POTATO  CREEK  TO  OSWAYO  CREEK: 

a.  Along  Allegheny  River,   61 

b.  Potato  Creek  Drainage  Area,  63 

c.  Typhoid   Fever,    67 

3— OSWAYO  CREEK  TO  TUNUNGAWANT  CREEK: 

a.  Along  Allegheny  River,   67 

b .  Oswayo  Creek  Drainage  Area ,   69 

c.  Typhoid   Fever, 72 

4— TUNUNGAWANT     CREEK     TO     NEW     YORK-PENNSYLVANIA 

STATE  LINE: 

a .  Along  Allegheny  River ,   72 

b .  Tunungawant  Creek  Drainage  Area ,   74 

c.  Tvphoid   Fever,    78 

5— NEW  YORK  STATE  LINE  TO  CONEWANGO  CREEK,  78 

6— CONEWANGO  CREEK  TO  BROKENSTRAW  CREEK: 

a .  Along  Allegheny  River,   84 

b .  Conewango  Creek  Drainage  Area ,    86 

c.  Typhoid  Fever,  93 

(i) 


7— BROKENSTRAW  CREEK  TO  TIONESTA  CREEK:  Page. 

a.  Along  Allegheny  River 93 

b.  Brokenstraw  Creek  Drainage  Area 95 

T\  phoid  Fever 101 

8— TIONESTA  CREEK  TO  OIL  CREEK: 

a.  Along  Allegheny  River 101 

b.  Tionesta   Creek    Drainage  Area 105 

e.    Typhoid  Fever 109 

9— OH. CREEK  TO  FRENCH  CREEK: 

a.  Along  Allegheny  River 109 

b.  <  >il  Creek  Drainage  Area 112 

c.  Typhoid  Fever 117 

10— FRENCH  CREEK  TO  THE  CLARION  RIVER: 

a.     Along  Allegheny    River 117 

l).     French  Creek   Drainage  Area 123 

e.    Typhoid    Fever 135 

11— CLARION  RIVER  TO  RED  BANK  CREEK: 

a.  Along  Allegheny   River 136 

b.  Clarion   River  Drainage  Area 140 

c.  Typhoid  Fever 154 

12— RED  BANK  CREEK  TO  MAHONING  CREEK: 

a.  Along  Allegheny  River 155 

b.  Red   Bank  Crook   Drainage  Area 156 

c.  Typhoid   Fever 171 

13  MAHONING  CREEK  TO  CROOKED  CREEK: 

a.  Along  Allegheny  River 172 

b.  Mahoning  Creek  Drainage  Area,  178 

c.  Typhoid  Fever,  187 

II     CROOKED  CREEK  TO  THE  KISKIMINETAS  RIVER: 

a.  Crooked    Crook    Drainage    Area,    187 

b.  Along  Allegheny  River 191 

e.     Typhoid    Fever 192 

15— KISKIMINETAS  RIVER  TO  (BRILLIANT)  PITTSBURGH: 

a.  Kiskiminetas  River  Drainage  Area 192 

i.     General   Description  of  the  River  and  its  Main  Tributaries,  192 

2.  General   Description  of  Natural   Resources,   Industrial  Devel- 

opment, Water  Supply,  and  Sanitation,  196 

3.  Survey  of  Little  Conemaugh  Sub-basin,  200 

4.  Survey  of  Stony  Ci k  Sub-basin,    210 

5.  Survey  of  Black  Lick  Creel,-  Sub-basin 216 

6.  Survey  of  Loyalhannp  Creek  Sub-basin,   222 

7.  Survey  of  Conemaugh  River  Valley — Johnstown  to  Avonmore,  225 

8.  Survey  of  Kiskiminetas  River  Valley — Avonmore  to  Allegheny 

River,  237 

b.  Along  Allegheny  River 244 

c.  Typhoid   Fever,    291 

PART  V. 

POLLUTION    OF   THE   ALLEGHENY    RIVER,    EXTENT   AND    EFFECTS. 

CONCLUSIONS. 

1— POPULATION ,   293 

2— POLLUTION  SUMMARY 294 

3— MINE  DRAINAGE  AS  A  PURIFYING  AGENCY,   296 

4— TYPHOID    (HARTS 298 

5— PITTSBURGH    WATER    SUPPLY,    TYPHOID   FEVER,    CONCLU- 
SIONS   299 

a .  Pittsburgh  Waterworks  in  1008,  299 

b.  The  Commissioner  of  Health's  Decree  of  1908,  and  its  Fulfillment,  306 
e.    Typhoid   Fever  in  Pittsburgh,   Before  and  After  Water  Filtration,  314 

d.  Quality  of  Allegheny   River  Water  at  the  Ross  Pumping  Station,  325 

e.  Difficulties   Encountered   in  Operating  tlio  Aspinwall  Filter  Plant, 

Imposed  by  the  Allegheny  River  Water,  347 

f.  Experiments    on    Preliminary   Treatment   of   the   Allegheny   River 

Water 352 

g.  Proposed  Improvements  at  the  Aspinwall  Filter  Plant,    354 

h.     Summary    of   the    Survey    with    Reference    to   Pittsburgh's   Water 

Supply '. 355 

i.     Conclusions  and  the  1912  Decree  of  the  Commissioner  of  Health,   ..  357 


(ii) 


LIST  OF  CHARTS. 


Puge. 

1— MAP  OF  THE  ALLEGHENY  RIVER  WATERSHED,  3 

2— PRINCIPAL  COAL  MINING  OPERATIONS,  45 

3— PETROLEUM  AND  NATURAL  GAS  FIELDS,   51 

4— MAIN  STREAMS  OF  THE  ALLEGHENY  RIVER  BASIN,  57 

5— ANNUAL  TYPHOID  MORBIDITY  RATES  IN  THE  ALLEGHENY 

RIVER  BASIN  IN  PENNSYLVANIA,   298 


LIST  OF  DIAGRAMS. 


A— SHOWING  RELATION  OF  RIVER  ACIDITY  AND  BACTERIA,  ....  297 
B— URBAN  AND   RURAL  TYPHOID   IN  THE  ALLEGHENY   BASIN,  299 
C— ESTIMATED  FUTURE  POPULATION  IN  THE  PITTSBURGH  DIS- 
TRICT,      312 

D— ESTIMATED  FUTURE  WATER  CONSUMPTION  IN  THE  PITTS- 
BURGH DISTRICT,  313 

E— TYPHOID     CASES     IN    PITTSBURGH,     BEFORE    AND    AFTER 

WATER  FILTRATION,  318 

F— HARDNESS  OF  ALLEGHENY  RIVER  WATER  AT  ASPINWALL,  338 


LIST  OF  TABLES. 


I.  Main  Tributaries  of  the  Allegheny  River,  5 

II.  Rainfall,    6 

III.  Slopes  of  the  Allegheny  River  Channel,  7 

IV.  Distances  Along  the  Allegheny  River, 8 

V.  Increase  of  Floods  at  Pittsburgh  Since  1871,   11 

VI.  Monthly   Discharge    of   the   Allegheny   River    at   Red   House, 

N.  Y.,    ;  13 

VII.  Monthly  Discharge  of  the  Allegheny  River  at  Kittanning,   14 

VIII.  Monthly  Discharge  of  the  Allegheny  River  at  Pittsburgh,   ....  15 

IX.  Monthly  Discharge  of  the  Kinzua  Creek,    16 

X.  Monthly  Discharge  of  the  Conewango  Creek,   17 

XI.  Monthly  Discharge  of  the  Brokenstraw  Creek,   18 

XII.  Monthly  Discharge  of  the  Tionesta   Creek,    19 

XIII.  Monthly  Discharge  of  the  Oil  Creek,    20 

XIV.  Monthly  Discharge  of  the  French  Creek  at  Carlton,   21 

XV.  Monthly  Discharge  of  the  North  Branch  of  French  Creek, 22 

XVI.  Monthly  Discharge  of  the  Cussewago  Creek,    23 

XVII.  Monthly  Discharge  of  the  Sugar  Creek,  24 

XVIII.  Monthly  Discharge  of  the  Clarion    River,    26 

XIX.  Monthly  Discharge  of  the  Red  Bank   Creek,    27 

XX .  Monthly  Discharge  of  the  Mahoning  Creek ,    28 

XXI.  Monthly  Discharge  of  the  Crooked  Creek,    29 

XXII.  Monthly  Discharge  of  the  Kiskiminetas  River,    30 

XXIII.  Monthly  Discharge  of  the  Black  Lick  Creek,   31 

XXIV.  Monthly  Discharge  of  the  Loyalhanna  Creek,    32 

XXV.  Maximum  and  Minimum  Discharge  of  the  Allegheny  River  and 

Tributaries,    33 

XXVI.  List  of  Tanneries  in  the  Allegheny  Basin,   ......  40 

XXVII.  List  of  Chemical  Plants  in  the  Allegheny  Basin, 41 

XXVIII.  Approximate  Extent  of  Improved  Land  in  the  Allegheny  Basin j  44 

XXIX.  Production   of   Bituminous   Coal,    45 

XXX.  Coal  Production  of  the  Allegheny  Basin  by  Counties  foriioi^  46 

XXXI.  Coke  Production  of  the  Allegheny  Basin,   48 

XXXII.  Large  Plants  for  the  Manufacture  of  Clay  Products, 53 

XXXIII.  Chemical  Analyses  of  the  Allegheny  RiveV  at  Warren,   82 

XXXIV.  Chemical  Analyses  of  the  Conewango  Creek  at  Warren,   ......  92 

XXXV.  Bacterial  and   Chemical  Analyses   of  the  Allegheny  River  at 

Siverly,     102 

XXXVI.  Sanitary  Analyses  of  the  French  Creek  Water,    .  127 

XXXVII.  Typhoid  Fever  Cases  in  the  French  Creek  Valley,   ..       135 


(iii) 


XXXVIII. 

XXXIX. 
XL. 
XLI. 
XLII. 

XI. III. 
XLLV. 

XLV. 

XI.  VI. 

XI.  VII. 

XI.  VIII. 

XI. IX. 

L. 

LI. 

LI  I. 

I.III. 

1.1V. 

l.V. 

LVI. 

LVII. 

LV1II. 

I. IX. 

I.X. 

LXI. 

LXII. 

I.XIII. 

J.XIV. 

LXV. 

I.XVI. 

l.XVII. 

I.XVIII. 

LXIX. 

LXX. 
I. XXI. 
I.XXII. 
LXXIII. 

I.XXIV. 
l.XXV. 

LXXVI. 
LXXVII. 
LXX  VIII. 

LXXIX. 

LXXX. 
LXXXI. 

LXXXII. 

LXXXIII. 
LXXXIV. 

LXXXV. 

LXXXVI. 

LXXXVII. 

LXXXVIII. 
LXXXIX. 

xc. 

XCI. 

xcn. 

XCIII. 

XCIV. 

xcv. 

XCVI. 

xcvn. 

XCVIII. 
XCIX. 


Page. 

Chemical  Analyses  of  the  Clarion  River,      144 

Typhoid  B'ever  Cases  in  the  Clarion  River  Basin,  155 

Typhoid  b'ever  Cases  in  the  Red  Bank  Creek  Valley,  171 

Analyses  of  the  Allegheny  River  at  Kittanning 174 

Anal;                   I  lover  Run  near  Punxsutawney,  1S1 

Typhoid  fever  Cases  in  the  Mahoning  Creek  Valley,  187 

Ana ...  ie  Kiskiminetas  River  at  Apollo  and  the  Cone- 

maugh  River  at  Blairsville  and  Johnstown,  198 

Aciditj    and    Alkalinity    Tests   of    Waters    in    the    Kiskiminetas 

Basin 199 

Typhoid  B'ever  Cases  in  the  Little  Conemaugh  River  Sub-basin,  207 

Chemical  Analyses  of  Waters  around  Johnstown,   208 

Chemical  Analyses  of  the  Little  Conemaugh  River  at  Franklin,  209 

Chemical  Analyses  of  Stonj   Creek,  215 

Typhoid  B'ever  Cases  in  the  Stony  Creek  Sub-basin,   21G 

(   iieinieal  Analyses  of  the   Black   l.iek  Creek,   221 

Typhoid  Fever  Cases  in  the  Black  Lick  Creek  Sub-basin,  222 

Typhoid  Fever  Cases  in  the  Loyalhanna  Creek  Sub  basin,  225 

Chemical  Analyses  of  the  Conemaugh  River  at  Johnstown,   ..  234 

Chemical  Analyses  of  the  Conemaugh  River  at  Johnstown,   ..  235 

Chemical  Analyses  of  the  Conemaugh  River  at  Blairsville,  ..  236 

Typhoid  Fever  Cases  iii  the  Conemaugh   River  Valley,   236 

Chemical  Analyses  of  the  Kiskiminetas  River  at  Vaudergrift,  241 

Acidity  of  the  Kiskiminetas  River  at  Vandergrift,  242 

Free  Acid  in  the  Kiskiminetas  River  at  Vandergrift,  243 

Mineral  Analyses  of  the  Kiskiminetas  River  at  Vandergrift,   ..  243 
Chemical  Analyses  of  the  Kiskiminetas  River  at  West  Leech- 
burg,    244 

Typhoid  Fever  Cases  in  the  Lower  Kiskiminetas  Valley,  244 

Analyses  of  the  Allegheny  River  near  Tarentum,  247 

Analyses  of  the  Allegheny  River  near  Springdale,  248 

Analyses  of  the  Allegheny  River  near  Nadine,   250 

Analyses  of  the  Allegheny  River  at  Pittsburgh,  251 

Chemical  Analyses  of  the  Allegheny    River  after  Filtration  at 

Pittsburgh,    252 

Typhoid  Fever  Cases  in  the  Pennsylvania  Water  Company  Dis- 
trict,      289 

Typlu iid  lever  Cases  in  the  Lower  Allegheny  Valley,   291 

Principal  Towns  along  the  Allegheny  River,    293 

Urban  and  Rural  Populations  in  the  Allegheny  Basin,   294 

Summary  of  Polluting  Factors  in  the  Allegheny  Basin,  296 

Pumpage  of  Filtered  Water  at  Pittsburgh,   309 

Population  and   Water   Consumption   in   Pittsburgh   by   Water 

Districts,   309 

Summary  of  Suburban  Population  at  Pittsburgh,  311 

Suburban  Population  and  Daily   Water  Consumption,    311 

Future  Population  and   Water  Consumption  for  Greater  Pitts- 
burgh,      312 

Comparisons  of  Estimated   Water   Consumption   in   the  Pitts- 
burgh District  up  to  1950,   313 

Typhoid  Fever  Cases  in  Peninsula  Pittsburgh,    315 

Typhoid  B'ever  Cases  in  Peninsula  Pittsburgh,   Excluding  the 

Area  of  the  Pennsylvania   Water  Company,    316 

Typhoid  Fever  Cases  in  the  South  Side  District,   317 

Allegheny    City    Typhoid,    318 

Summary  of  Typhoid  Fever  Cases  in  Pittsburgh,  318 

Summary  of  Typhoid  Fever  Cases  in  the  Filtered  Water  Dis- 
tricts of  Pittsburgh,    319 

Summary  of  Typhoid  Fever  Cases  in  the  Raw  Water  District 

of  Pittsburgh,   320 

Typhoid   Fever  Kates  in  Various  Cities  of  the  United  States,  321 

Typhoid  Fever  Deaths  in  Pittsburgh,   323 

Allegheny  City  Typhoid   Cases.    Before  and  After  Germicidal 

Treatment  of  the  Haw  Water  Supply,   324 

Bacteriological  Analyses  of  the  Esplen  Water  Supply,  324 

Daily  Bacterial  Analyses  of  the  Allegheny  River  Water  at  the 

Aspinwall    Filter  Plant,    325 

I)ailv  Turbidity  of  the  River  Water  at  Aspinwall,    326 

Suspended  Solids  in  the  River  Water  at  Aspinwall,   328 

Ilighlv  Turbid  Allegheny   River  Water 330 

Medium  Turbid  Allegheny   River  Water,   331 

Slightly  Turbid  Allegheny   River  Water,   332 

Classification    of   Different    Waters   of  the  Allegheny   River   at 

Aspinwall ,    333 

Iron.    Turbidity,    and   Alkalinity   of   Mottled    River   Water  at 

Aspinwall,    333 

Mineral  Analyses  of  the  River  Water  at  Aspinwall  During  Un- 
usual  Conditions,    335 

(iv) 


Page . 
C.                       Hardness  and  Alkalinity  of  the  River  Water  at  Aspinwall,   ..  337 
CI.                      Mineral  Analyses  of  the  River   Water  at  Aspinwall   for  Feb- 
ruary, March,  and  April,  1912,   339 

OH.  Mineral  Analyses  of  the  River  Water  at  Aspinwall  for  May, 

June,  and  July,   1912,   341 

CHI.  Mineral  Analyses  of  the  River  Water  at  Aspinwall  for  August, 

September,  and  October,  1912,  343 

CIV.                   Odors  of  the  Raw  River  Water  at  Aspinwall,  345 

CV.                    Sanitary  Chemical  Analyses  of  the  River  Water  at  Aspinwall,  346 

CVI.                  Daily  Yield  of  Filters  at  Aspinwall,   348 

CVII.                Bacilli  Coli  in  Aspinwall  Filtered  Water,  349 

CVIII.  Chemical  Analyses  of  Allegheny  River  Water  and  of  Kiskimin- 

etas  River  Water,   and  of  Mixtures,    350 

CIX.  Iron  and  Alkalinity  Tests  of  Mixtures  of  Allegheny  and  Kiski- 

minetas  Waters,    350 


LIST  OF  DEGREES  KELATIVE  TO  WATERWORKS  ISSUED  BY 
THE  COMMISSIONER  OF  HEALTH  TO  PLACES  IN  THE 
ALLEGHENY  RIVER  BASIN  TO  WHICH  SPECIAL  REF- 
ERENCE IS  MADE  IN  THIS  REPORT. 


CRAWFORD  COUNTY:  Page. 

Cambridge  Springs  Borough,   October,  1907, 131 

VENANGO  COUNTY: 

Franklin  City,  December,  1907, 119 

ELK  COUNTY: 

Ridgway  Borough,  September,  1907, 149 

Ridgway  Borough, June,  1908, 150 

JEFFERSON  COUNTY: 

Brookville  Borough, „ August,  1910, 167 

Falls  Creek  Borough,   October,  1910, 161 

Punxsutawney   Borough,    May,  1909, 185 

CLARION  COUNTY: 

Clarion  Borough,    July,  1907, 153 

Foxburg  Village,  May,  1908, 123 

ARMSTRONG  COUNTY: 

Freeport  Borough,   September,  1908, 256 

Kittanning  Borough,    January,  1906, 176 

INDIANA  COUNTY: 

Blairsville  Borough,  June,  1907, 231 

CAMBRIA  COUNTY: 

Johnstown  City,  . . .' October,  1908, 226 

Johnstown  City,  November,  1908, 226 

SOMERSET  COUNTY: 

Hooversville  Borough,    March,  1912, 211 

Stoyestown  Borough,    May,  1906, 210 

WESTMORELAND  COUNTY: 

Arnold,  New  Kensington,  and  Parnassus  Bor- 
oughs,  April,  1912, 269 

ALLEGHENY  COUNTY: 

Natrona  Village, December,  1908, 260 

Brackenridge  Borough,    September,  1907, 261 

Springdale  Borough,   October,  1908, 275 

Springdale  Borough,   March,  1911, 275 

Oakmont  Borough,   Februarv,  1910, 2S1 

Oakmont  Borough,   July,  1910, 282 

Nndine,  Pennsylvania  Water  Co.,   May  1909, 290 

Pittsburgh  City,  August,  190S, 306 

Pittsburgh  City,  May,  1912, 357 

(v) 


LIST  OF  WATER  FILTRATION  PLANTS  IN  THE  ALLEGHENY 
RXVEK  BASIN,  L912. 


WAKKKN   COUNTY:    Warren  Borough Warren   Water  Co. 

OBAWFOBD  COUNTY: Cambridge  Springs  Bor., Municipal  Waterworks. 

VENANGO  COUNTY:  Franklin   City,    Municipal  Waterworks. 

ELK    COUNTY:    Bidgway  Borough .Municipal  Waterworks. 

JEFFERSON  COUNTY:   Punxsutawney  Borough,  Punzsutawney   Water   Co. 

Brookville  Borough,   Municipal  Waterworks. 

CLARION  COUNTY:  Clarion  Borough,  Clarion  Water  Co. 

A  KM  STRONG  COUNTY:   ....Parker  City,    Parker  City  Water  Co. 

Freeport  Borough,   Freeport  Waterworks  Co. 

Kittanning  Borough,  Armstrong  Water  Co. 

New  Behlehem  Borough,  Citizens  Water  Co. 
Apollo  Borough,    Apollo  Waterworks  Co. 

INDIANA    COUNTY:    Indiana  Borough,   Clymer  Water  Co. 

Ernest  Village,  Jefferson   and  Clearfield 

Coal  and   Iron  Co. 
Iselin  Village,    Pittsburgh  Gas  Coal  Co. 

WF.STMORELAND  COUNTY: New     Kensington     Bor- 
ough,     Kensington  Water  Co. 

Vaudergrift  Borough,   . . .  Yandergrift  Water  Co. 

ALLEGHENY  COUNTY:   ....Natrona  Village,   Natrona  Water  Co. 

Brackenridge  Borough,.. Allegheny  Yalley  Water  Co. 

Pittsburgh  Suburbs, Pennsylvania  Water  Co. 

Pittsburgh,   Municipal  Waterworks. 


LIST  OF  DECREES  RELATIVE  TO  SEWEKAGE  ISSUED  BY 
THE  COMMISSIONER  OF  HEALTH.  WITH  THE  ASSENT 
OF  THE  GOVERNOR  AND  THE  ATTORNEY  GENERAL, 
TO  PLACES  IN  THE  ALLEGHENY  RIVER  BASIN  TO 
WHICH  SPECIAL  REFERENCE  IS  MADE  IN  THIS  RE- 
PORT. 


MeKEAN  COUNTY:  Page. 

Bradford  City,   May,  1908, 77 

Bradford  City,   April,  1912 77 

Kane  Borough,    October,  1907, 83 

Norwich   Village,    August,  1911 66 

Port  Allegany  Borough,  February,  1912, 61 

Smethport    Borough,     June,  1909, 66 

WARREN  COUNTY: 

State  Hospital  (Warren),  March,  1907 91 

Warren  Borough, September,  1905, 86 

Warren  Borough March,  1907 86 

Warren  Borough,    April,  190!}, 86 

Youngsville  Borough,   October,  1906, 99 

ERIE  COUNTY: 

Corry  City,    September,  1908 98 

i        .    City,   March,  1912, 99 

Corry  City  (Howard  Tannery),  September,  1908, 99 

Edinboro  Borough April.  1907, 132 

Union  Citv  Borough,   December,  1908, 128 


(vi) 


CRAWFORD  COUNTY:  Page. 

Cambridge  Springs  Borough,  April,  1007, 

Cambridge  Springs   Borough,   Inly  1008, 131 

Cambridge  Springs  Borough,   October,  1908 131 

Meadville  City,    September,  1906, 133 

Meadville  City,    May,  1011, 133 

Titusville  City,    luly,  1006, 116 

Titusville  City,    February,  1007, 116 

VENANGO  COUNTY: 

Emlenton    Borough,     April,  1008, 122 

Franklin    City,     January,  1008, 110 

Oil   City,    June,  L906 Ill 

Pleasantville   Borough,    February  1912, 104 

Pleasantville   Borough,    May,  1012, 104 

State   Institution    (Polk),    April,  1007, 121 

State   Institution    (Polk),    July,  1910, 121 

ELK  COUNTY: 

Jolmsonburg    Borough,    April,  1907, 146 

Johnsonburg    Borough,     June,  1007, 146 

Jolmsonburg    Borough,     July,  1012, 148 

Ridgwav  Borough,    June,  1908, 150 

St.   Marys  Borough,    June,  1907, 149 

CLEARFIELD  COUNTY: 

Du  Bois  Borough,  April,  1909, 160 

JEFFERSON  COUNTY: 

Big  Run  Borough,  November,  1907, 183 

Punxsutawney    Borough,    July,  1909, 185 

Revnoldsville  Borough,    May,  1908, 163 

West  Reynoldsville  Borough,    May,  1908, 165 

CLARION  COUNTY: 

East  Brady  Borough,   October,  1906, 140 

ARMSTRONG  COUNTY: 

Ford  City  Borough,  June,  1907, 178 

Freeport  Borough,    September,  1908, 254 

Freeport  Borough,    Julv,  1912, 255 

Kittanning   Borough,    October,  1908, 176 

Parker  City,    March,  1911, 138 

South  Bethlehem  Borough,    March,  1909, 170 

Wickboro  Borough,  May,  1908, 175 

INDIANA  COUNTY: 

Blairsville    Borough,     June,  1907, 231 

Indiana  Borough,    June,  1907, 220 

Indiana  Borough,    September,  1907, 220 

Indiana  Borough,    May,  1908, 220 

Saltsburg  Borough ,    June,  1907, 233 

CAMBRIA  COUNTY: 

Cresson  Borough,    August,  1907, 201 

Portage  Borough ,    August,  1911 , 202 

Scalp  Level  Borough,   May,  1908, 213 

South  Fork  Borough,   March,  1912, 206 

SOMERSET  COUNTY: 

S toy estown  Borough,    September,  1906, 210 

WESTMORELAND  COUNTY: 

Deny    Borough,     April,  1907, 230 

Deny    Borough,     March,  1908, 230 

Derry    Borough,     May,  1908, 230 

Ligonier  Borough,  July,  1906, 222 

New  Kensington  Borough,    ..June,  1908, 271 

New  Kensington  Borough,    January,  1912, 273 

ALLEGHENY  COUNTY: 

Natrona   Village,    July,'  1907, 258 

Brackenridge  Boroush,    May,  190S, 262 

Brackenridge  Boroush,    November,  1908, 262 

Brackenridge  Borough,    November,  1909, 264 

Tarentum  Borough,   May,  1908, 266 

(vii) 


A!. I  EGHENX  COUNTS  rCon  Lnued.  Paso. 

Tarentum  Borough,  October,  1909, 267 

Springdale  Borough March,  1911, 277 

Springdale  Borough,   July,  1912, 277 

Cheswick   Borough rune,  1908, 278 

Cheswick   Borough August,  1908 279 

Cheswick   Borough April,  1910 280 

Cheswick   Borough July,  1912, 281 

Oakmont  Borough,    August,  1907, 283 

Verona    Borough August,  1907, 285 

Verona    Borough,    July,  1908, 285 

Verona    Borough August,  1911, 286 

Claremont  Village, 

Allegheny   City   Home,    November,  1907, 287 

Allegheny   City   Home,    June,  1908, 287 

Allegheny  County  Workhouse,  March,  1907, 287 


LIST  OF  SEWAGE  TREATMENT  PLANTS  AND  THEIR  OWNER- 
SHIP, IN  THE  ALLEGHENY  RIVER  BASIN,  1912. 


NEW  YORK  STATE: 

Olean    City Tannery  Company . 

Cuba  Village,   Municipality. 

North  Olean  Village,    Municipality  (2) . 

Bolivar  Village,   Municipality. 

Chautauqua,   Association. 

PENNSYLVANIA: 

Norwich  Village,  McKean  County,  Lumber   Company. 

Bells   Camp,    McKean  County,  Tuberculosis    League 

Glade  Village Warren  County,    Tannery  Company. 

Stoneham  Village,    Warren  County,    Tannery  Company. 

Warren  State  Hospital,    Warren  County,    State  Hospital. 

Warren  Borough,  Warren  County,    Water  Company. 

Corry  City,    Erie  County,   Tannery  Company. 

Spring  Creek  Village,    Warren  County,    Tannery  Company. 

Pleasantville   Borough,    Venango  County,  Municipality. 

Polk   Borough,    Venango  County,  State  Institution. 

Indiana    Borough,    Indiana  County,    Municipality. 

Perry    Borough,    Westmoreland  County,  ..Municipality. 

Claremont,    Allegheny  County,   

Allegheny   City   Home,    Municipality. 

Allegheny   County  Workhouse,    County. 

Aspinwall,     Allegheny  County,   Municipality. 

Springdale  Borough,   Allegheny  County,   Glue  Company. 


(  viii  ) 


The  Department  of  Health  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania 
was  placed  in  charge  of  the  health  of  the  people  and  the  purity  of 
the  waters  of  the  Commonwealth  under  Acts  of  Assembly  respectively 
entitled : 

"An  Act  creating  a  Department  of  Health,  and  defining  its  powers 
and  duties,"  approved  the  27th  day  of  April,  A.  D.,  1905,  P.  L.  No. 
218,  page  312,  and 

"An  Act  to  preserve  the  purity  of  the  waters  of  the  State,  for  the 
protection  of  the  public  health,"  approved  the  22nd  day  of  April,  A. 
D.,  1905,  P.  L.  No.  182,  page  260. 

In  organizing  the  Department  a  Division  of  Sanitary  Engineering 
was  established  and  immediate  inspection  was  started  in  thirty  dis- 
tricts to  take  out  the  sewage  pouring  into  the  streams  from  private 
sources,  and  the  municipalities  with  their  old  combined  systems 
had  to  be  carefully  studied  before  comprehensive  sanitary  systems 
could  be  decided  upon  and  finished  by  the  individual  cities  and  bor- 
oughs. 

While  the  work  was  carried  on  throughout  the  Commonwealth  the 
public  water  supplies  were  studied.  This  work  in  the  majority 
of  municipal  water  supplies  involved  the  small  watersheds  though- 
out  the  45,000  square  miles  of  territory  in  the  State.  This,  however, 
gave  us  valuable  data  on  the  sources  that  went  to  make  up  our 
large  streams. 

The  Department  of  Health  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania 
from  the  time  of  its  creation  has  consistently  endeavored  to  protect 
and  purify  the  water  supply  in  order  to  enable  the  citizens  of  the 
State  to  procure  water  that  is  safe  as  well  as  palatable.  To  this  end 
the  watersheds  of  particular  supplies  have  been  inspected  and  re- 
inspected  as  occasion  arose.  In  addition  to  this  more  extensive  sur- 
veys have  been  undertaken  to  acquire  precise  information  concerning 
the  condition  of  the  larger  streams.  This  information  is  as  yet  some- 
what fragmentary  except  for  the  basin  of  the  Allegheny  River.     . 

The  Allegheny  River  Basin  loomed  up  in  importance  on  account 
of  its  topography,  the  large  population,  and  numerous  industries 
that  were  discharging  wastes  into  the  River.  With  a  full  realization 
of  the  necessity  of  having  a  more  precise  knowledge  of  the  existing 
conditions  so  as  to  enable  us  to  decide  what  procedure  would  best 
protect  this  water  and  inaugurate  metropolitan  sewerage  systems  a 
careful  compilation  of  the  work  has  been  correlated  with  special 


comprehensive  studies.  This  work  was  done  under  the  direction 
of  the  Department  and  the  supervision  of  the  Chief  Engineer,  P.  Her- 
berl  Snow. 

The  fundamental  inspections  were  made  in  1909  and  11)10,  and 
these  were  supplemented  by  numerous  later  examinations,  so  that 
our  imies  present  the  conditions  substantially  as  they  existed  at  the 
cud    of    the  year    1912. 

The  material  thus  collected  has  been  partially  available  to  our 
engineers  in  the  form  of  notes,  but  these  were  not  in  shape  for  publi- 
i  a  i  i<>n.  Requests  for  information  concerning  the  basin  of  the 
Allegheny  River  have  come  from  time  to  time  from  various  official 
boards  directly  interested  in  the  sanitary  condition  of  this  great 
River,  as  the  Pittsburgh  Typhoid  Fever  Commission,  the  Corps  of  . 
Engineers,  of  the  United  States  Army,  and  the  United  States  Public 
Health  Service.  Similar  requests  have  been  made  by  certain  eminent 
sanitary  engineers.  Hitherto  these  memoranda  were  not  yet  suffi- 
ciently elaborated  to  permit  of  general  use.  In  view,  however,  of  the 
considerable  and  growing  interest  in  the  matter  it  has  been  decided 
to  put  the  material  on  hand  in  proper  form  for  printing  that  it  may 
lie  readily  accessible  to  all. 

SAMUEL  G.  DIXON. 

llarrisburg,   July   1914. 


II 


SANITARY  SURVEY  OF  THE  ALLEGHENY  RIVER 
WATERSHED 

INTRODUCTION. 


In  carrying  out  the  provisions  of  law  under  which  the  State  De- 
partment of  Health  is  conserving  the  purity  of  the  waters  of  the 
State  for  the  protection  of  public  health,  it  has  been  found  inad- 
visable to  establish  a  uniform  policy  respecting  details  for  all  water- 
sheds. Each  considerable  stream  may  present  a  separate  and  dif- 
ferent problem.  The  uses  to  which  the  waters  are  or  may  be  put,  the 
physical  characteristics  of  the  stream  and  its  watershed,  the  density 
of  population  and  the  extent  and  causes  of  pollution  are  among  the 
many  points  to  be  carefully  considered  in  determining  what  policy 
will  best  promote  and  conserve  public  health.  The  survey  described 
in  this  report  was  undertaken  to  ascertain  as  nearly  as  practicable 
the  essential  facts  required  to  work  out  a  policy  for  the  Allegheny 
Basin  and  its  tributary  streams. 

Under  the  direction  of  the  Chief  Engineer,  Mr.  F.  Herbert  Snow, 
a  sanitary  survey  was  made  of  the  Allegheny  River  basin  by  Assistant 
Engineer,  Mr.  Paul  Hooker,  and  numerous  other  officers  of  the  En- 
gineering Division.  Mr.  Hooker  prepared  a  report  which  has  formed 
the  basis  for  this  report  and  from  which  much  has  been  copied.  The 
work  included  a  study  of  the  reports  on  investigations  of  conditions 
in  a  large  number  of  public  and  private  corporations,  such  as  cities, 
boroughs  and  water  companies,  made  in  the  course  of  the  routine 
work  of  the  Department,  a  special  field  investigation  of  municipali- 
ties not  so  covered,  and  a  general  field  survey  of  the  entire  water- 
shed. 

It  seemed  best  to  confine  the  investigation  to  the  portion  tributary 
to  the  river  above  Brilliant,  eight  miles  from  the  mouth.  There  were 
various  reasons  leading  to  the  omission  of  the  lower  portion  of  the 
river,  chief  among  them  being  that  the  condition  of  the  stream  below 
this  point  is  inseparably  connected  with  the  sanitary  problem  of 
Greater  Pittsburgh,  which  is  the  subject  of  an  independent  study  now 
being  conducted. 

(l) 


A  detailed  description  is  giveu  of  the  river  and  its  principal 
affluents  with  discharge  measurements  and  pertinent  analyses.  Con- 
siderable attention  has  been  paid  to  the  resources  of  the  region  as 
bearing  on  the  value  of  the  river  as  a  sewage  and  waste  channel 
compared  with  its  importance  as  a  source  of  public  water  supply. 
The  latter  part  of  the  report  is  devoted  to  population  and  pollution, 
with  especial  attention  to  the  principal  polluting  agencies,  the  oc- 
currence of  typhoid  fever,  and  the  relation  of  the  study  to  the  water 
supply  of  Pittsburgh. 

In  the  compilation,  recourse  was  had  to  many  records  and  re- 
ports, both  published  and  in  manuscript  form  and  the  information 
therein  has  been  freely  used.  The  Water  Supply  Commission  of 
Pennsylvania  has  placed  records  of  stream  measurements  and  other 
data  at  the  disposal  of  the  Department  of  Health.  The  State  Depart 
ment  of  Mines  lias  supplied  information  requested,  and  the  New  Fork 
State  Department  of  Health  contributed  a  report  on  conditions  on 
the  watershed  within  that  State.  Frequent  recourse  has  been  had  to 
the  Report  of  the  Pittsburgh  Flood  Commission. 


PAKT  I 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION  OF  ALLEGHENY  RIVER  BASIN. 

The  Allegheny  River  is  the  principal  tributary  of  the  Ohio,  whose 
source  is  the  confluence  of  the  Allegheny  and  the  Monongahela.  The 
name  Allegheny  is  derived  from  a  word  of  the  Seneca  Indian  dialect, 
meaning  "Fair  Water,"  and  as  Ohio  in  other  Indian  dialects  has 
the  same  meaning  it  is  inferred  that  the  aborigines  regarded  the 
Allegheny  and  the  Ohio  as  one  stream. 

Its  drainage  area,  known  as  the  Allegheny  Basin,  lies  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  Allegheny  plateau  region  and  comprises  the 
greater  part  of  the  western  slope  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains  in  Penn- 
sylvania, embracing  over  one-fifth  of  the  area  of  the  State,  and  a 
part  of  the  western  end  of  New  York.  The  total  area  of  the 
Allegheny  Basin  is  11,400  square  miles,  of  which  9,310  square  miles 
lie  within  the  borders  of  Pennsylvania.  It  is  about  124  miles  in  ex- 
treme width  and  175  miles  in  length,  extending  from  the  central 
part  of  Potter  county  on  the  east  to  its  western  limit  in  Crawford 
county,  about  ten  miles  from  the  Ohio  State  line.  Its  northern 
limit  lies  about  thirty  miles  north  of  the  New  York-Pennsylvania 
State  line  and  to  the  south  it  extends  to  within  twelve  miles  of 
the  southern  border  of  the  State  in  Somerset  county. 

In  the  northwest  the  dividing  line  approaches  Lake  Erie  extending 
to  within  five  miles  of  the  Lake  in  Erie  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  to 
within  three  miles  in  New  York  State.  "The  Continental  Divide" 
forms  the  eastern  margin  of  this  great  basin  extending  to  an  eleva- 
tion of  about  2,800  feet.  The  northern  divide  in  New  York  State 
reaches  to  about  1,775  feet.  About  eighty-five  miles  from  its  mouth 
the  river  approaches  to  within  six  miles  of  the  western  divide,  which 
at  this  point  attains  an  elevation  of  about  1,550  feet — approximately 
700  feet  above  the  river  level. 

The  territory  drained  by  the  Allegheny  River  embraces  regions 
of  widely  varying  topographical  character,  ranging  from  the  high 
rounded  hills  characteristic  of  Potter  and  McKean  counties  to  broad 
terraced  valleys  with  wide  bottom  lands  in  New  York  State;  from 
the  steep  hills  and  broken  country  of  the  eastern  slope  to  the  com- 
paratively level,  marshy,  lacustrine,  western  slope. 

In  preglacial  times  all  the  drainage  of  this  basin  flowed  to  the 
northwest  into  the  Lake  Erie  Basin  and  thence  to  the  St.  Lawrence. 
Three  distinct  streams  then  existed  corresponding  closely,  within  the 


limits  of  the  basin,  to  the  upper,  middle,  and  lower  portions  of  the 
Allegheny  river.  During  the  Kansan  glacial  stage  the  ice  cap  ex- 
tended into  Lhe  northern  and  western  portions  of  what  is  known  as 
the  Allegheny  Basin,  forming  a  barrier  which  cut  oil'  the  three  out- 
lets and  completely  changed  the  drainage  system.  It  was  then  that 
the  Allegheny  river  took  its  present  position  following  the  terminal 
moraine  lor  about  200  miles  from  its  source  to  the  centre  of  Venango 
county.  The  deep  valleys  and  the  steep  ridges  characteristic  of 
the  eastern  slope  clearly  point  to  great  age.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
northwestern  slope  is  niarshy,  with  frequent  lakes  and  ponds  over- 
lying deep  deposits  of  glacial  drift,  indicating  recent  formation. 

The  stratification  exposed  comprises  portions  of  the  Devonian 
and  Carboniferous  series,  chiefly  the  latter,  the  oldest  formations 
appearing  to  the  north.  The  general  dip  is  slight  and  to  the  south- 
west. Surface  indications  begin  with  the  Chemung  passing  through 
the  Catskill  (both  of  the  Devonian  Systems)  then  through  the  Mis- 
sissippian  (Lower  Carboniferous)  series,  and  Penusylvanian  (Upper 
Carboniferous)  series  of  the  Carboniferous  System.  The  Pennsyl- 
vanian  or  Upper  Carboniferous  coal  measures  comprise  the  Appala- 
chian Coal  Field,  underlying  the  greater  part  of  the  Allegheny  Basin. 

The  Allegheny  River  which  drains  the  great  basin  described  above 
rises  in  the  high,  hilly  plateau  region  of  the  northeastern  part  of 
the  basin  at  an  elevation  of  2,250  feet  above  sea  level.  Here,  in  an 
area  of  less  than  one  square  mile  near  the  centre  of  Potter  County, 
rivulets  find  their  origin,  leading  eventually  to  the  waters  of  the 
Cult'  of  St.  Lawrence,  by  way  of  the  Genesee  River,  to  Chesapeake 
Bay,  by  way  of  the  Susquehanna  River,  and  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  by 
way  of  the  Allegheny.  From  its  source  the  Allegheny  flows  in  a 
general  northwesterly  direction  about  eighty  miles,  crossing  into 
New  York  State,  to  a  point  eleven  miles  north  of  the  State  line. 
Here  it  turns  abruptly  to  the  southwest,  continuing  in  this  direc- 
tion one  hundred  and  twenty  miles  to  the  central  part  of  Venango 
County,  after  running  in  all  about  forty-seven  miles  through  New 
York.  It  then  turns  to  the  southeast  and  again  to  the  southwest 
one  hundred  and  ten  miles  to  its  confluence  with  the  Monongahela 
to  form  the  Ohio  River,  the  total  length  of  the  Allegheny  being 
about  three  hundred  and  ten  miles.  Its  channel  is  generally  broad 
and  shallow  averaging  300  feet  in  width  throughout  its  course  in 
New  York  State  and  for  the  lower  one  hundred  and  forty  miles  of 
its  course  from  480  feet  to  2,140  feet  in  width. 

In  the  upper  part  the  bottom  consists  of  fine  sand  and  gravel 
for  about  one  hundred  and  fifteen  miles  from  the  source.  Its  char- 
acter then  changes;  loose  stones  and  boulders  appear  and  gradually 
increase  in  number  until  the  bottom  in  the  lower  portion  of  the 
river  consists  largely  of  broken  irregular  masses  of  loose  rock.  Solid 
rock  seldom  appears  in  the  river  bed. 


The  course  of  the  stream  throughout  is  a  series  of  pools  and  ripples, 
the  pools  gradually  deepening  toward  the  mouth  to  sixteen  feet  or 
more.  The  waters  are  naturally  clear.  During  the  low  water 
period  in  1897  the  bottom  was  visible  at  a  depth  of  sixteen  feet  in 
some  of  the  pools. 

Section  1. — Areas  of  Main  Tributaries. 

A  great  many  streams,  some  of  them  quite  large,  unite  to  form  the 
Allegheny  River.  In  Table  I  its  main  tributaries,  with  the 
drainage  area  of  each,  are  given  in  consecutive  order,  beginning  at 
the  headwaters. 

TABLE  I.— Main  Tributaries  of  the  Allegheny  River. 


Potato   Creek 

Oswayo   Creek,    

Tunungawant  Creek, 
CoiH.-wango  Creek,  . . 
Brokenstraw  Creek,    . 

Tionesta    Creek 

Oil    Creek,     

French    Creek,     

Clarion    River,     

Red    Bank    Creek,     .. 

Mahoning  Creek,    

Crooked  Creek 

Kiskiminetas  River, 


Drainage  Area 

Distance  above 

Square  Miles. 

Mouth 

in 

Miles 

240 

272 

21S 

261 

164 

240 

S35 

192 

300 

184 

458 

15  i 

2S5 

131 

1,180 

1  6 

1,175 

85 

526 

70 

397 

58 

280 

41 

1,846 

30 

Section  2. — Distribution  of  Rainfall. 

The  mean  annual  precipitation  over  the  entire  Allegheny  River 
watershed  is  42.35  inches.  Table  II  shows  the  rainfall  at  various 
points  within  this  area.  The  figures  are  taken  from  records  of  read- 
ings made  by  the  United  States  Weather  Bureau  or  its  local  ob- 
servers, and  published  in  its  bulletins.  The  Water  Supply  Com- 
mission furnished  the  compilation. 


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Section  8. — Slopes. 

The  surface  slope  is  very  steep  near  the  head  waters,  changing 
abruptly  to  a  flat  grade  in  New  York  State.  On  re-entering  Penn- 
sylvania, the  slope  again  becomes  steep,  gradually  diminishing 
toward  the  mouth.  Table  III  gives  the  slope  in  feet  to  the  mile  in 
consecutive  sections  of  varying  length  covering  the  entire  course  of 
the  river. 


TABLE   III.— Slopes  of   the  Allegheny   River 

Channel. 

Miles  from   Source. 

Slope — 

Feet  per 

Mile. 

Approxi- 
mate 
Velocity 
Miles  per 
Hour. 

0  to    30,     

27.0 
2.0 
1.7 
3.7 
5.0 
3.5 
3.5 
3.0 
2.1 

7  77 

30  to    55 

55  to    75 

1  94 

75  to    95,     

2  87 

95  to  115 

3  30 

115  to  125,     

2.79 

125  to  150 

2  79 

150  to  1S2,    

2.58 

182  to  SOS 

2.18 

In  the  computations  to  obtain  the  approximate  velocity  per  hour, 
in  the  formula,  V=cyrs7:  V=ft.  per  sec;  c=75  (+) ;  r=4.5  (  +  )  ; 
s=slope  (ratio). 

These  velocities  are  for  the  normal  stage  of  the  river.  The  maxi- 
mum velocities  are  much  in  excess  of  those  appearing  in  the  above 
table. 


Section  4- — Distances. 

Table  IV  shows  the  distance  along  the  Allegheny  from  its  mouth 
and  from  its  approximate  source  to  the  various  bridges,  larger  towns 
and  the  mouths  of  the  principal  tributaries. 

It  is  compiled  mainly  from  the  reports  of  the  surveys  of  the  river 
made  by  the  United  States  Army  Engineers  in  1897  and  prior  to  that 
date. 


TABLE   EV.— Distance  Ah>ug  Allegheny  River. 


Distance  hi  Miles 


11.2 

M.O 
10.4 
13.3 

21. e 

24.2 

2S.7 
30.0 
30.2 
33. V 
36.2- 
37. s 
88.2 
40.7 
42.0- 
43.7 
45.6 
48.7 
49.1 
51.2 
55.5 
56.2 
61.0 
62.1 
64.5 
04.9 
65.0 
67.6 
70.7 
73.5 
7G.4 
SO. 5 
85.0 
86. 1 
87.8 
91.6 
04.7 
101.4 
104.3 
110.0 
115.9 
120.9 
L25.1 
126.4 
130.7 
131.0 
131.1 
134.2 
134.7 
135.6 
141.1 
142.7 
143.." 
145.3 
146.9 
149.1 
150.5 
152.3 
154.4 
1.77.2 

161.4 
162.8 
166.7 
169.2 
170.9 
173.2 
17C.2 
177.7 
179.4 
1S0.1 


808.0 
807.5 

307.4 
■SUi.o 
207.  u 
3O0.7 
306.3 
305.7 
30."..  4 
304.6 
302.7 
301.0 
3tH>.7 
299.7 
296.8 
234.0 
291.6 
288.7 

2v3.t< 
279.8 
278.0 

277.  S 

271.8 

270.2 

269.  S 

267.3 

266.0 

264.3 

262.  i 

2.VJ.3 

258.9 

256.  S 

252.5 

251.8 

247.0 

245.9 

243.5 

243.1 

14.:. 'i 

240.4 

237.3 

234.5 

231.6 

2ZI  -  5 

223.0 

221.9 

2^0.2 

216.4 

213.3 

206.6 

203.7 

19S.0 

192.1 

187.1 

182.9 

1S1.6 

177.3 

174.0 

173.9 

173.8 

173.3 

172.4 

IK'-..  II 

165.3 

164.5 

162.7 

161.1 

158.9 

157.5 

155.7 

153.6 

150.8 

148.4 

146.6 

145.2 

111.3 

13S.8 

137.1 

134. 

131.8 

130.2 

128.6 

127.9 


Union   Bridge,  nt  the  Point,   Pittsburgh. 

sixth  Street  Bridge. 

Seventh  Street   Bridge. 

Ninth    Street    Bridge. 

[fort   Wayne  K.   it.    Bridge. 

Sixteenth    Street     B 

it.  it    Island    i  ock    (Twenty-Aral    Street). 

'ilnrtU'iii    Street    Bridge. 

Pittsburgh   Junction    u.    R.    Bridge. 

Forty-third    Street    Bridge    (Mill vale). 

Butler  Street   Bridge    (Snarpsburg  and   Etna). 

Six-mile   Island   Lock    i  Nu.   2)   uud   wing  duin. 

Aspinwall. 

Shades    Run    (Pittsburgh    City    line). 

Verona. 

Pittsburgh,    Buffalo  &   Lake  Erie  R.   E.   Bridge. 

Lock   No.   3  Springdale). 

Ni-.i    Kensington. 

X'arentum    (Bull    Creek). 

Natrona. 

Freeport    Bridge. 

West    Pennsylvania    Railroad    Bridge. 

Kiskbninetas    River. 

Clinton. 

Kelly. 

Nicholsons  Dam. 

Logausport. 

Rosston. 

lord     City. 

.Manorville. 

Kitlanuing    Bridge. 

Lower  Cowanshannock   Dike. 

Upper   Cowanshannock    Dike. 

Uo  --rove. 

Cempleton. 

Mahoning. 

Rimerton. 

Riverview. 

Red   Bank   Dike. 

Red    Bank   Creek. 

Red  Bank  Junction. 

Phillipston. 

Bast    Brady. 

Cattish    Run. 

Lower    Hillsville. 

Monterey. 

Parker    Bridge. 

Clarion   River. 

Foxburg    Bridge. 

Erulenton    Bridge. 

Potter. 

Rockland. 

St.    George. 

Kennerdell. 

Brandon. 

East  Sandy. 

Bine    Rock    Bridge. 

Franklin    Bridge. 

Reno. 

Oil   Citv    Suspension   Bridge. 

Oil    City    Belief    Bridge. 

nil    City    and    Petroleum    Bridge. 

Allegheny     Valley     Railway     Bridge. 

dorse    Creek. 

Walnut    Bend. 

Oleopolis. 

Pi  thole    Creek. 

Henry's    Run. 

Hemlock  Creek. 

Baums  Station. 

Hunters    Run. 

Little  Tionesta   Creek. 

rionesta   Bridge. 

I 'ahs    Island    Head. 

West   Hlekory   Creek. 

Cast    Hickory   ('reek. 

Hemlock   Island   Head. 

Porterfleld    Island    Head. 

Tidioute. 

Coursin    Islaml    Head. 

Ma  gees    Run. 

Conklin    Run. 

Thompson's    Bun. 

Clarks    Island    Head. 

Dunn's    Island    Foot: 


Distance 

iu  Miles. 

Place. 

From 

From 

Mouth. 

Source. 

182.3 

125.7 

Brokenstraw    Island    Foot. 

134.0 

124.0 

Brokenstraw    Greek. 

186.9 

121.1 

Jackson's  Kun. 

188.4 

119.6 

Mead's    Island   Head. 

191.5 

116.5 

Warren    Suspension    Bridge. 

191.9 

116.1 

Conewango   Creek. 

193.9 

114.1 

Morrison's     Creek. 

196.0 

112.0 

Shipman's   Islana   Ileaa. 

196.9 

111.1 

Hooks    Island    Mill. 

199.1 

10S.9 

Long   or   Goose    Island,    Foot. 

200.9 

107.1 

Bents    Run. 

202.2 

105.8 

Kinzua   Creek. 

202.7 

105.3 

Licks    Run. 

204.2 

103.8 

Kinzua     Island,     Head. 

205.5 

102.5 

Sugar    Creek. 

206.0 

102.0 

Hodges   Run. 

207.2 

100.8 

Lower  Cornplanter  Island  No.  2,   Foot. 

308.4 

99.6 

Lower  Cornplanter  Island   No.   1, .  Head. 

208.9 

99.1 

Cornplanters    Creek    Monument. 

210.4 

97.6 

Tracey    Run. 

211.2 

96.8 

Brown's    Island    Head. 

212.4 

95.6 

Corydon. 

213.7 

94.3 

New    York   &   Pennsylvania   State   Line. 

235. 0 

73.0 

Salmananca,    N.    Y. 

253.0 

55.0 

Olean,    N.    Y. 

261.0 

47.0 

State    Line. 

30S.O 

0.0 

Source. 

Steep  slopes  favor  water  power  development.  Flat  slopes  favor 
sedimentation.  It  will  be  seen  in  Table  III  that  the  least  velocity 
is  1.94  miles  an  hour.  Running  water  in  a  stream  whose  velocity  is 
sufficient  and  whose  section  is  favorable  for  the  movement  of  sedi- 
ment, has  a  tremendous  power  for  transportation.  One  would 
conclude,  therefore,  that  the  Allegheny  River  would  bring  along  its 
course  large  quantities  of  sediment.  This  is  true,  as  will  appear  later, 
and  with  it  come  the  pollutions  contributed  by  the  inhabitants  and 
the  industrial  plants  in  the  basin. 


PA2JTII 

STREAM  FLOW. 

Section  J. — Flood*  and  Control. 

The  flow  of  the  Allegheny  River  is  quite  erratic  011  account  of  the 
varied  character  of  the  watershed.  The  streams  entering  from 
the  east  are  subject  to  sudden  changes  in  volume,  while  those  of  the 
west  maintain  a  comparatively  steady  flow.  The  river  is  peculiarly 
subject  to  ice  gorges,  owing  to  the  cold  winters  in  the  region  about 
its  head  waters,  and  to  its  rapid  current,  short  bends  and  sudden 
freshets — thirty  inches  of  ice  being  not  unusual  on  the  upper  river. 
High  water  stages  are  most  frequently  reached  from  January  to 
April;  low  water  usually  during  months  of  September  and  October. 
There  have  been  fifty-three  floods  in  Pittsburgh  during  the  last  forty 
years.  The  maximum  flood  occurred  in  1907.  Millions  of  dollars 
worth  of  property  are  annually  sacrificed  along  the  Allegheny  and 
Ohio  Rivers  due  to  the  overflowing  of  their  banks.  The  flood  dam- 
age at  Pittsburgh  is  so  extensive  as  to  call  for  relief.  The  Flood  Com- 
mission of  the  city  of  Pittsburgh,  after  an  exhaustive  study,  has 
proposed  the  building  of  storage  reservoirs  to  hold  back  the  flood 
water  and  the  construction  of  protective  walls  along  the  banks 
through  the  city.     Thirteen  dams  are  proposed. 

The  site  of  dam  No.  1  is  on  the  Allegheny  River  four  miles  above 
Oil  City.  The  dam  is  to  be  sixty-three  feet  high,  flood  back  sixteen 
miles,  and  have  a  storage  capacity  of  2.9  billion  cubic  feet.  The  site 
of  dam  No.  2  is  just  above  No.  1. reservoir.  The  dam  is  to  be  sixty-six 
feet  high,  flood  back  sixteen  miles  and  have  a  storage  capacity  of  4.9 
billion  cubic  feet.  The  site  of  dam  No.  3  is  on  the  river  just  above 
No.  2  reservoir.  This  dam  is  to  be  fifty-four  feet  high,  flooding  back 
fifteen  miles  and  having  a  storage  capacity  of  2.7  billion  cubic  feet. 

The  site  of  dam  No.  4  is  on  Tionesta  Creek  one  mile  above  the 
mouth.  The  dam  is  to  be  103  feet  high,  flood  back  sixteen  miles  and 
have  a  storage  capacity  of  3.6  billion  cubic  feet. 

The  site  of  dam  No.  5  is  on  French  Creek  three  miles  above  Frank- 
lin City.  The  dam  will  be  seventy-five  feet  high,  flood  back  nineteen 
miles  and  have  a  capacity  of  3.3  billion  cubic  feet.  The  site  of  dam 
No.  6  is  on  the  North  Branch  of  French  Creek  in  Erie  county  near 
Wattsburg.  The  dam  will  be  sixty-seven  feet  high,  flood  back  nine 
miles  and  store  2.1  billion  cubic  feet. 

10 


The  site  of  dam  No.  7  is  on  the  Clarion  River  just  above  the  mouth. 
The  dam  will  be  142  feet  high,  flood  back  twenty-four  miles  and  have 
a  capacity  of  5.1  billion  cubic  feet  The  site  of  dam  No.  8  is  on  the 
Clarion  River  four  miles  above  Clarion  borough.  The  dam  will  be 
128  feet  high,  flood  back  twenty-three  miles,  and  have  a  capacity  of 
4.9  billion  cubic  feet.  The  site  of  dam  No.  9  is  on  the  Clarion  River 
two  miles  above  Clarington,  the  dam  will  be  seventy  feet  high,  flood 
back  fourteen  miles  and  store  1.5  billion  cubic  feet. 

The  site  of  dam  No.  10  is  on  Mahoning  Creek  twenty  miles  above 
the  mouth.  The  dam  will  be  113  feet  high,  flood  back  fourteen 
miles  and  store  2.4  billion  cubic  feet. 

The  site  of  dam  No.  11  is  en  Crooked  Creek  at  the  mouth.  The  dam 
will  be  ninety-four  feet  high,  flood  back  fourteen  miles  and  have  a 
capacity  of  3.3  billion  cubic  feet. 

The  site  of  dam  No.  12  is  on  the  Loyalhanna  Creek  one  mile  above 
the  mouth.  The  dam  will  be  122  feet  high,  flood  back  nineteen  miles 
and  store  4.1  billion  cubic  feet. 

The  site  of  dam  No.  13  is  on  Black  Lick  Creek  at  its  mouth.  The 
dam  will  be  sixty-three  feet  high,  flood  back  ten  miles  and  have  a 
capacity  of  1.5  billion  cubic  feet. 

Of  the  fifty-three  floods,  four  occurred  in  December,  eleven  in  Jan- 
uary, thirteen  in  February,  eleven  in  March  and  three  in  April,  four 
in  May,  two  in  June,  two  in  July,  two  in  August,  none  in  September, 
none  in  October  and  one  in  November.  There  has  been  no  increase  in 
amount  op  intensity  of  rainfall  during  the  period  covered  by  these 
floods  and  it  is  therefore  evident  that  the  increase  in  the  frequency 
and  height  of  floods  has  been  due  to  artificial  causes.  The  following 
table  is  taken  from  the  Flood  Commission  Report: 

TABLE  V.— Increase  of  Floods  at  Pittsburgh  since  1871,  by  Five-Year  Periods. 


Number  of  Floods. 

Five  Year  Period. 

22  ft. 
to 
26  ft. 

26  ft. 

to 
30  ft. 

30  ft. 

to 
35  ft. 

35  ft. 

to 
40  ft. 

Total. 

1S71-1S75 

2 
3 
3 

7 
6 
2- 
5 
8 

0 
0 
2 
1 
0 
3 
4 
1 

0 
0 

1 
0 
1 
0 

2 

1 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
1 

1876-1SS0 

1S86-1S90 

1891-1S95 

6 
8 

1S96-19O0 

5 

1901-1905 

11 

1906-1910 

11 

Total ." 

36 

11 

5 

1 

53 

Extensive  deforestation  of  the  drainage  area  has  probably  caused 
a  higher  rate  of  run-off.  The  carrying  capacity  of  the  river  channel 
has  been  reduced  by  a  gradual  filling  up  and  the  construction  of 
bridge  piers  and  encroachments  by  filling  and  retaining  walls,  all 
have  played  some  part  in  the  increased  height  of  floods. 


11 


With  respect  to  the  effect  of  storage  reservoirs  on  the  flow  of  the 
streams  in  the  Allegheny  Basin,  the  Pittsburgh  Flood  Commission 
has  the  following  to  say  in  its  report: 

"The  greatest  Pood  in  this  river  at  Kittanning  since  1S05  was  that  of  March,  1905, 
which  was  only  about  six  inches  below  the  earlier  flood.  The  crest  of  the  1905 
Hood  reached,  at  Kittanning,  a  gage  height  of  28.8  feet,  corresponding  to  u  discharge 
of  240, '2M  second-feet.  The  proposed  reservoir  control  above  Kittanning  would  have 
reduced  this  gage  height  to  17.3  feet,  or  99,550  second-feet  discharge;  a  reduction 
in  stage  of  11.5  feet  and  in  discharge  of  140,700  second  -feel. 

"The  flood  of  February  L6th,  L908,  which  reached  a  stage  of  24.8  feet  at  Kittanning, 
would  have  been  reduced  to  a  stage  of  10.2  feet,  u  reduction  of  8.6  feet.  The 
Hood  of  .March,  1907,  though  the  greatest  on  record  at  Pittsburgh,  reached 
a  stage  of  only  15.9  feet  at  Kittanning,  as  the  rain-fall  in  the  upper  Alle- 
gheny was  very  light.  This  flood  has,  therefore,  not  been  considered  in  this  connec- 
tion. 

"The  reductions  in  stage  of  the  floods  of  1905  and  1908,  would  be  about  the 
same  amounts  as  at  Kittanning  as  far  up  as  Oil  City,  and  from  Kittanning  to 
Pittsburgh,  a  total  distance  of  about  134  miles.  It  is  obvious  what  this  would  mean 
to  present  sufferers  from  floods  along  this  river.  At  Kittanning,  for  example,  over- 
flow of  the  banks  does  not  begin  until  the  gage  is  well  above  20  feet,  whereas  ii 
would  probably  never  exceed  18  feet  with  the  proposed  reservoir  control." 


Section  2. — Measurements. 

Gauging  stations  are  maintained  at  many  points  in  the  Allegheny 
Basin  by  the  State  Water  Supply  Commission.  These  were  neces- 
sarily established  at  convenient  points  and  therefore  the  measure- 
ments given  in  the  tables  do  not  include  the  flow  from  those  portions 
of  the  drainage  areas  below  the  respective  stations.  The  drainage 
areas  in  the  tables  of  this  Part  are  as  computed  by  the  Pittsburgh 
Flood  Commission. 

The  monthly  discharge  in  hundred  second-feet  of  the  Allegheny 
River  at  three  points  along  its  course  is  given  in  Tables  VI,  VII,  and 
VIII. 


12 


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14 


TABLE    VIII.— Mean    Discharge    in    Hundred    Second-Feet.    Allegheny    River    at 
Mouth,    Pittsburgh.    (Drainage   Area    11,580    Square    Miles.) 


Mouu    Disciiat' 

January 

February ,     

March 

April 

May 

June,     

July,     

August,    

September,    

October,     

November 

December,     

The    Year 


v.m. 

L904. 

1805. 

1906. 

1907. 

32,30© 

28,400 

10,000 

30, 400 

55,400 

53,100 

24,000 

3,500 

9,400 

8,020 

63,700 

70, 0W0 

6., 200 

23,800 

56,900 

30,000 

30,20© 

21,400 

3/.S0O 

20,800 

9,500 

28,100 

10,300 

l  1,100 

.1,000 

18.SU0 

24,200 

10,100 

10,900 

21,000 

20,100 

24,200 

15,600 

5,800 

9,700 

21,300 

20,000 

16,500 

1 i.OOO 

5,000 

Zi.,300 

21, 100 

9,100 

5,100 

0,500 

26,000 

23,700 

17,800 

27,200 

13,400 

21,350 

20, 1'OO 

lU.frJO 

20,000 

19,100 

9,000 

If, 000 

38,500 

47,300 

27,100 

26,750 

28,100 

20,000 

22,100 

22,800 

I 

,1,0,0 

82,300 

a  too 

10.800 


The  next  five  tables  give  the  maximum,  minimum  and  mean  dis- 
charges of  the  five  main  tributaries  of  the  Allegheny  River  from  in 
the  vicinity  of  Warren,  to  Franklin  City. 


15 


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The  next  four  tables  show  the  discharge  of  the  Clarion  River,  Red 
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main  tributaries  of  the  Allegheny  River. 

It  is  on  the  Clarion  River  that  very  large  water  development  power 
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located  in  this  valley  and  the  waters  are  not  suitable  for  domestic  pur- 
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used  as  a  source  of  water  supply.  The  facts  as  to  the  occupation  of 
each  water  shed  of  the  four  streams  and  other  relevant  data  appear 
elsewhere  in  this  report. 


25 


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32 


Table  XXV"  is  a  summary  of  Hie  maximum  and  minimum  dis- 
charges of  the  Allegheny  River  and  its  tributaries  as  given  in  detail 
in  the  preceding  tables.  For  convenience  and  comparison  in  the 
columns  of  maximum  and  minimum  discharge  the  second  feet  are 
given  total  and  also  for  the  square  mile  and  the  drainage  area  of 
each  stream  is  also  given. 


TABLE  XXV. — Maximum  and  Minimum   Discharge  of  Allegheny  River  and  Tri- 
butaries. 


Stream. 


Allegheny   River: 

Red    House 

Kittanning,     

Pittsburgh.      

Kinzua    Creek: 

Dewdroi' 

Mouth 

Conewango  Creek: 

Mouth,      

Brokenstraw  Creek: 

Mouth,      , 

Tionesta  Creek: 

Nebraska,      

Mouth 

Oil  Cerk: 

Rouseville 

French  Creek: 

Carlton 

Mouth,    

North    Branch, 

Kimmeytown 

Cussewago  Creek: 

Mouth 

Sugar  Creek: 

Wyattville 

Clarion    River: 

Clarion 

Mouth,     

Red    Bank   Creek: 

St.    Charles 

Mouth,     

Mahoning   Creek: 

Furnace   Bridge,    . 

Mouth 

Crooked   Creek: 

Mouth 

Kiskirainetas   River 

Avonmore 

Black   Lick   Creek: 

Black    Lick,     

Mouth 

I.oyalhanna   Creek: 

Mouth 


Maximum  Discharge. 


41,000 
21(.',2.j0 
30O.lX>i> 

7,6G0 
S,000 

33,000 

14,350 

20,600 
21,750 

15,000 

48,700 
56,330 

12,000 

5,000 

8,000 

39,200 
52,400 

25,000 
27,000 

IS, 750 
19,000 

14,000 

SO, 000 

19,620 
21,000 

14,180 


Sec.  ft. 
per 

So,.  Mile. 


25.00 
26.70 
26.00 

47.30 


37.00 
45.00 
45.60 


49.50 
45.50 


56.50 
47.60 
50.20 
43.10 


46.20 


46.50 
50.  SO 


Minimum  Discharge. 


100 

775 
950 


Sec.  ft. 

per 
Sq.  Mile. 


0.060 

o.oso 
o.oaz 

0.080 


0.160 
0.140 
0.0S4 


0.130 
0.047 


0.091 
0.029 
0.057 
0.055 


0.019 
0.049 


0.004 
0.038 
0.016 


0.036 


Drainage 

A  rea 
Sq.  Mile. 


1,610 
9,010 
11,580 

162 

16a 

S92 

319 

451 
177 


1,070 

1,23-S 

212 

105 

159 

910 
1,213 


412 
417 


287 
1,720 


3S6 
414 


Section  3. — Relation  of  Precipitation  to  Run-off. 
The  mean  annual  rainfall  in  the  Allegheny  basin,  as  previously 
shown  is  42.35  inches.  The  lowest  mean  annual  rainfall  on  the  Al- 
gheny  basin,  37  to  39  inches,  is  in  the  extreme  northern  portion,  near 
Lake  Erie.  From  here  it  increases  southwardly  to  46.4  inches  at 
Clarion,  on  the  Clarion  River.  At  Johnstown,  on  the  Conemaugh, 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  basin,  the  average  is  45.1  inches,  increasing 
further  up  this  stream  to  an  average  of  48  inches  near  the  source. 
The  lowest  mean  annual  rainfall  recorded  is  at  Pittsburgh,  36.1 
inches,  or  6.3  inches  below  the  average  for  the  basin  and  the  greatest 


33 


is  at  Clarion,  4.06  Inches  above  the  average  Eor  the  basin;  giving  a 
difference  of  L0.36  inches  between  the  greatest  and  least  mean  annual 
rainfall  on  the  basin. 

The  Clarion  and  Kiskiminetas  basins  receive  a  greater  rainfall 
that  those  of  any  other  tributaries  of  the  Allegheny  River. 

The  minimum  annual  rainfall  recorded,  occurred  in  1887,  at  Salts- 
burg  on  the  Kiskiminetas,  when  the  total  precipitation  for  the  year 
was  only  22.3  inches,  or  L6.4  inches  below  the  mean  annual  rainfall 
at  that  station.  The  maximum  annual  rainfall  occurred  in  1870,  at 
Franklin  on  the  Allegheny,  when  the  total  precipitation  for  the  year 
was  59.7  inches,  or  L8.8  inches  above  the  mean  at  that  station. 

With  res]  eel  to  the  seasonal  distribution,  which  has  an  impor- 
tant relation  to  the  run-off  and  stream  now,  on  the  Allegheny  basin, 
the  average  spring  rain-fall  is  10.3  inches,  summer  12.6  inches, 
and  winter  9.5  inches.  This  uniform  seasonal  distribution  aids 
the  streams  in  maintaining  their  flow.  During  the  winter  months, 
the  precipitation  is  largely  in  the  form  of  snow  and  sleet,  and  the 
ground  surface  is  frozen;  so  that  if  the  snow  melts,  much  of  it  flows 
directly  off  in  freshets.  During  the  growing  season  much  of  the 
rain  is  absorbed  b}-  the  dry  ground  and  vegetation  and  the  streams 
then  reach  their  lowest  stages. 

July  is  the  month  of  maximum  rain-fall  and  June  and  May  come 
next  in  order.  The  monthly  rain-fall  has  exceeded  ten  inches  sixteen 
times  on  the  Allegheny  basin  and  several  times  it  has  exceeded  fifteen 
inches. 

The  greatest  rain  falls  recorded  for  twenty-four  hours  at  stations  on 
the  Allegheny  basin  were  as  follows:  Johnstown,  4.40  inches,  Parker, 
3.75  inches,  Pittsburgh  4.08  inches  and  Warren  3.56  inches.  At  Erie 
it  was  4.71  inches. 


Section  4- — Relation  of  Forest  Conditions  to  Run-Off. 

The  wearing  down  of  the  plateau  region  of  the  Allegheny  basin 
and  the  cutting  of  deep  gorges  by  the  streams  have  been  going  on  for 
ages.  Abnormal  soil  erosion  however,  does  not  exist  to  a  large  extent 
on  the  watershed.  There  are  places  where  fields  and  roadways  have 
gullied,  and  where  stream  banks  have  washed  away  accompanied 
by  excessive  turbidity  of  the  waters.  Generally  speaking,  where  the 
forest  conditions  are  undisturbed  and  the  vegetable  covering  of  the 
soil  has  not  been  burned,  erosion  does  not  occur  and  the  streams  run 
clear.  Even  where  the  forests  have  been  extensively  lumbered  and 
fires  have  burned  periodically  at  the  head  water  streams  in  the  basin, 
the  waters  are  clear. 

The  tributaries  to  the  east  of  the  Allegheny  River,  flow  in  narrower 
and  more  rugged  valleys — frequently  on  solid  rock  beds.  Notably 
in  the  Clarion  and  Kiskiminetas  rivers,  unusually  huge  rocks  have  fal- 

34 


leu  down  the  slopes  and  into  the  stream  bed.  With  the  exception 
of  the  lower  Kiskiminetas,  nearly  all  (he  eastern  valleys  are  com- 
paratively thinly  settled.  Whatever  cultivation  there  is  will  be  round 
mostly  on  the  uplands. 

The  tributaries  to  the  west  of  the  Allegheny  River,  have  larger 
valleys  that  are  more  open  and  more  cultivated.  in  the  glacial 
region,  some  of  the  larger  streams  meander  sluggishly  through  long 
reaches  of  nearly  level  bed,  where  extensive  swamps  lying  over  flooded 
valleys  are  found. 

The  tributaries  flowing  through  agricultural  areas  have  less  clear 
waters.  The  clearing  of  the  land  favors  soil  erosion.  Gullying  will 
take  place  on  badly  tilled  slopes  and  along  steep  roadways.  Where 
the  soil  begins  to  wash,  erosion  may  be  remedied  by  attention  to 
rational  systems  of  cultivation. 

It  is  the  waste  land  in  the  coal  mining  districts  about  which  con- 
cern should  be  manifest  Avith  respect  to  stream  flow  phenomena.  In 
the  basins  of  the  Conemaugh  and  its  head  waters  in  Cambria  County, 
the  Kiskiminetas  and  Loyalhanna,  near  the  head  waters  of  the 
Mahoning  in  southern  Jefferson  County  and  in  parts  of  many  other- 
drainage  areas  where  coal  mining  is  now  carried  on  or  where  the  coal 
has  been  taken  out  and  the  lands  abandoned,  the  waste  areas  are  too 
poor  for  cultivation  or  pasture.  They  are  desolate  regions,  rocky  and 
growing  up  with  shrubs  scattered  among  vines  and  weeds.  Fires 
sweep  over  these  areas  which  are  negelcted  and  in  time,  if  reforesta- 
tion is  not  promoted,  extensive  erosion  will  occur. 

In  and  about  McKean  County  and  along  the  Allegheny  Divide, 
including  the  northeastern  Allegheny  head  waters,  there  are  vast 
areas  of  denuded  and  burned  forest  lands  on  the  sandstone  and  con- 
glomerate plateaus  which  rapidly  shed  the  rainfall  and  add  to  the 
disastrous  flood  conditions  of  the  streams  draining  them.  These  con- 
ditions are  constantly  becoming  worse. 

In  no  region  of  the  country  have  the  natural  forest  conditions 
been  more  disturbed  than  in  the  Allegheny  basin.  In  Clearfield, 
Jefferson,  Indiana,  and  Cambria  counties  the  clearing  of  new  land 
is  going  on  wherever  the  soil  is  fertile  with  a  consequent  greater 
yield  of  run-off.  Probably  the  great  area  of  rough  wTooded  lands  in 
McKean,  Warren,  Forest,  and  Elk  counties  will  always  remain  as 
forest  lands.  '  What  is  needed  here  is  tree  planting  and  forest  land 
protection  from  fire.  Replanting  should  be  practised  in  the  great 
areas  in  the  coal  mining  district. 

Section  5. — Relation  of  Floto  to  Sanitation  and  Water  Supply. 

The  Allegheny  River  is  extensively  used  as  a  source  of  water  sup- 
ply for  domestic  and  industrial  purposes.  The  waters  are  danger- 
ously polluted  with  the  sewage  of  thickly  populated  communities  and 

35 


impregnated  with  mine  drainage  and  manufactural  wastes.  The 
hardness  of  the  water  necessitates  artificial  softening  before  its  use 
for  steaming  purposes.  The  mineral  constituents  of  the  water  which 
are  added  principally  by  the  operations  of  man  living  on  the  basin, 
exert  their  most  objectionable  influence  during  periods  of  low  flow. 
The  conditions  improve  as  the  volume  of  flow  in  the  river  increases. 

With  respect  to  dilution,  the  Pittsburgh  Flood  Commission  has  the 

following  to  say: 

"It  is  evident  that  the  improvement  of  the  conditions  of  the  rivers  through  dilu- 
tion of  their  sewage  burden  at  times  of  low  water  would  be  considerable.  At 
Pittsburgh,  for  example,  where  a  combined  population  of  about  583,000  discharges 
sewage  into  the  rivers,  the  minimum  Ohio  River  flow  of  about  1,200  second-feet 
is  ..nly  about  2  cubic  feet  per  second  per  1,000  of  population,  whereas  the  minimum 
dilution  considered  permissible,  if  nuisance  and  odor  are  to  be  avoided,  is  usually 
taken  at  3.33  cubic  feet  per  second  for  each  1,000  persons  contributing  to  such 
sewage  discharge.  With  the  lowest  estimate  of  the  increased  flow  that  could  be 
obtained  by  the  storage  reservoirs,  this  minimum  dilution  would  be  about  8  cubic 
feet    per    sec.md    per    1,000    inhabitants. 

"On  the  Allegheny,  at  Kittauning  and  Freeport,  as  has  been  shown,  the 
minimum  flow  would  be  over  three  times  its  present  amount ;  and  on  the  Kiskimin- 
etas  at  Avonmore,  it  would  be  six  times  the  present  minimum  discharge.  The 
sewage  of  practically  all  the  towns  bordering  the  rivers  passes  into  the  streams 
without  purification,  and  the  conditions,  owing  to  the  concentration  of  sewage  and 
other  wastes  during  low  water,  arc  yearly  becoming  more  serious.  Such  an  increase 
in  low-water  flow  would  very  considerably  dilute  this  sewage  and  greatly  improve 
the  quality  of  the  water  for  domestic  and  industrial  supply,  even  though  no  com- 
plete purification  of  sewage  be  provided." 


Section  6. — Relation  of  Flood  Control  to  Navigation. 

As  will  appear  elsewhere  in  this  report,  the  navigation  of  the  Alle- 
gheny River  and  its  tributaries  is  of  great  importance  commercially 
and  industrially  to  the  people  and  improvements  extensive  and  far 
reaching  in  benefits  are  contemplated. 

At  present  only  twenty-four  miles  of  the  Allegheny,  between  Pitts- 
burgh and  Natrona,  are  slackwatered.  Plans  for  extending  the 
canalization  of  the  river  to  Oil  City,  134  miles  above  Pittsburgh, 
have  been  prepared  by  the  Federal  Government  engineers,  and  the 
construction  of  locks  and  dams  has  been  begun.  The  second  naviga- 
tion dam  is  at  Aspinwall  and  the  third  dam  is  at  Springdale.  The 
storage  proposed  in  the  thirteen  reservoir  projects  on  the  Allegheny 
basin  briefly  described  before,  would  increase  the  low-water  stage 
between  Oil  City  and  Pittsburgh  by  about  1.4  feet.  This  wouid 
greatly  improve  the  present  intermittent  open-river  navigation  above 
Tarentum  and  would  insure  a  pool-full  stage  and  uninterrupted  navi- 
gation throughout  the  year  when  the  slack  water  system  of  dams  and 
locks  is  extended. 


36 


PART  III 


NATURAL  RESOURCES,  THEIR  DEVELOPMENT  AND 

EXTENT. 


Section  1. — Timber,  Tanneries,  and  Chemical  Plants. 

The  mineral  resources  of  the  Allegheny  basin  are  of  enormous  im- 
portance and  have  been  largely  exploited.  The  lumber,  iron  ore, 
petroleum,  and  natural  gas  industries  have  each  had  its  reign. 
The  presence  of  the  timber  and  iron  ore  primarily  attracted  the  early 
settler  to  the  basin  and  caused  the  development  of  the  lumber  and 
iron  industries.  As  the  population  increased,  so  likewise  increased 
the  manufacture  of  iron  and  the  manufacture  of  lumber  until  these 
natural  resources  were  depleted. 

The  nature  of  the  soil  renders  it  of  lesser  agricultural  value  except 
in  comparatively  small  areas.  Consequently  vast  sections  which 
have  been  denuded  of  their  timber,  remain  as  they  were  left  by  the 
lumbermen.  This  outwardly  barren  region  contains,  however,  min- 
eral deposits  of  great  value.  Upon  these  mineral  deposits  and  upon  the 
development  of  the  soil  and  water  resources  the  people  of  the  basin 
must  depend  for  t»heir  future  wealth  and  prosperity.  Chief  among 
the  mineral  deposits  are  bituminous  coal,  natural  gas,  petroleum,  and 
the  clays. 

It  should  be  noted  that  the  coals  and  the  iron  ore  and  the  natural 
gas  and  the  petroleum  deposits  are  not  uniformly  persistent  through- 
out the  basin.  They  vary  in  quality  and  extent  and  disappear  en- 
tirely in  some  localities. 

The  pioneers  of  the  Allegheny  basin  found  the  entire  watershed 
covered  with  a  dense  growth  of  valuable  forest.  The  early  develop- 
ment of  the  northern  and  central  portions  of  the  basin  was  mainly 
based  on  lumbering.  With  the  spread  of  settlement  the  seemingly 
inexhaustible  supply  of  timber  lead  to  gross  carelessness  and  enor- 
mous waste  in  cutting.  Lumber  operations  gradually  assumed 
greater  and  finally  enormous  proportions,  reaching  the  maximum 
about  1805.  As  a  result  of  the  reckless  methods  practised,  inatten- 
tion to  second  growth,  and  devastating  forest  fires,  no  timber  tracts 
of  any  considerable  extent  are  found,  with  perhaps  one  exception, 

37 


io  be  noted  below.  The  lumber  industry  is  about  to  become  a  matter 
of  history.  A  reliable  estimate  places  the  amount  of  timber  sent 
down  the  Allegheny  River  iu  1^70  at  200  million  B.  M. 

The  abundance  of  hemlock  early  brought  about  the  establishment 
of  tanneries  throughout  the  northern  part  of  the  basin,  because  the 
process  of  tannin-  then  required  great  quantities  of  hemlock  bark. 
Until  about  1890  there  was  little  market  for  hemlock  lumber  owing 
to  the  plentiful  supply  of  other  woods  of  better  grades,  and  it  was 
the  universal  practice  to  cut  the  timber  for  the  bark  alone,  allowing 
the  stripped  timber  to  lie  as  it  fell.  As  a  result  of  such  wastefulness, 
immense  areas  are  now  virtually  strewn  with  dead  logs.  How- 
ever, the  diminishing  supply  of  the  more  valuable  wood  brought 
hemlock  into  the  market.  The  tanner  and  (he  lumberman  have  joined 
forces  during  the  past  twenty  years  to  prevent  the  former  wastes. 
Indeed  some  work  is  being  profitably  carried  on  in  reclaiming  the  logs 
which  were  left  to  decay,  but  which  in  some  cases  still  have  sound 
hearts. 

The  original  timber  in  the  northern  portion  of  the  basin  consisted 
mainly  of  hemlock  and  pine  in  the  ravines  and  on  the  northern  slopes 
of  the  hills,  and  hard  woods — chiefly  maple,  beech  and  birch — on  the 
ridges.  In  the  central  and  southern  sections  of  the  basin,  white  oak 
and  chestnut  predominated,  with  some  yellow  pine  on  the  southern 
exposures.  The  principal  trees  found  in  the  extreme  southern  por- 
tion were  white  oak,  red  oak,  rock  oak,  chestnut,  ash,  maple,  beech, 
and  locust. 

The  timber  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  larger  streams  in  the 
central  portion  and  throughout  the  southern  counties  of  Westmore- 
land and  Somerset,  was  practically  exhausted  by  the  early  charcoal 
iron  operations  before  the  furnaces  were  finally  abandoned — 1858  to 
1870. 

The  tract  of  timber  above  mentioned,  lies  in  the  Potato  Creek 
region  in  McKean  county,  and  it  is  by  far  the  largest  body  of  virgin 
timber  now  remaining  in  the  State.  It  comprises  about  40,000 
acres  and  under  the  proposed  system  of  lumbering  will  be  exhausted 
in  about  ten  years. 

The  rest  of  the  standing  timber  in  the  basin  is  mostly  in  isolated 
areas;  the  larger  part  of  these  belonging  to  the  tanning  interests  and 
the  balance  consists  chiefly  of  farm  wood  lots.  A  small  amount  of 
white  pine  of  excellent  quality  is  still  found  in  Forest  County.  Some 
beech,  birch,  and  maple  remain  in  the  western  part  of  Potter  County ; 
in  Westmoreland  County  there  is  considerable  second  growth  of 
chestnut  and  oak.  Northeastern  Somerset  County  furnishes  some 
good  hemlock  timber. 

Enough  of  these  minor  lumbering  operations  are  going  on  to  con- 
stitute a  constant  menace  to  the  purity  of  those  mountain  streams 
that  are  used  as  a  source  of  public  water  supply  to  the  towns  located 

38 


on  head  water  streams.  Not  a  few  typhoid  epidemics  have  heen 
recorded  in  the  history  of  sanitation  in  the  basin  as  originating  at 
lumber  camps  and  transmitted  by  water  to  the  people  residing  in 
the  towns  which  rely  for  their  drinking  water  on  the  streams  thai 
drain  these  camps. 

In  the  Allegheny  basin  there  are  thirty-seven  tanneries,  seven  of 
which  are  in  New  York  State.  All  of  these  plants  are  located  on 
the  river  or  its  tributaries  above  Mahoning  Creek,  thirteen  being  on 
the  river  proper,  eight  on  the  Clarion  River,  seven  on  Tionesta  Creek, 
three  on  Red  Bank  Creek,  two  on  Brokenstraw  Creek  and  one  each  on 
Tunungawant,  Oil,  French,  and  Mahoning  Creeks. 

These  tanneries  discharge  offensive  dark  brown  wastes  into  the 
stream.  Ridgway  is  the  home  of  the  Elk  Tanning  Company  that 
operates  all  or  most  of  the  plants  mentioned.  That  company's  ex- 
perts are  endeavoring  to  find  some  method,  within  a  reasonable  out- 
lay, by  which  the  polluting  material  can  be  removed  from  the  liquid 
and  thus  obviate  the  harm  now  done.  The  tannery  waste  now  ren- 
ders streams  unfit  for  use  by  man  or  beast.  Where  the  contami- 
nation is  slight,  so  that  cattle  will  drink  the  water,  both  horses  and 
cows  have  been  known  to  contract  anthrax.  Where  the  pollution  is 
marked,  fish  are  exterminated. 

The  west  branch  of  the  Clarion  River  is  clear  above  the  tannery 
and  chemical  plants ;  but  below  them  it  is  foul  and  highly  discolored. 
Elk  Creek  which  enters  the  Clarion  at  Ridgway  is  black  with  tannery 
and  mine  wastes.  The  Clarion  River  above  this  point  is  dirty 
brown  from  the  paper  and  pulp  manufacturing  wastes  and  tannery 
pollutions  at  Johnsonburg.     Fish  do  not  live  in  the  Clarion. 

Since  chemical  plants  and  paper  mills  require  wood  as  raw  stock, 
naturally  the  upper  Allegheny  basin  is  a  favorable  locality  for  these 
industries.  There  are  forty-seven  chemical  plants  of  importance  on 
the  Allegheny  watershed.  Above  Warren,  there  are  thirty-two 
of  these  plants,  two  of  which  are  in  New  York  State. 

Charcoal,  wood  alcohol  and  acetate  of  lime  are  largely  manufac- 
tured. The  waste  products  discharged  to  the  stream  strongly  im- 
pregnate the  waters  with  creosote  taste  and  odor  that  can  be  detected 
many  miles  below  the  point  of  such  discharge.  The  creosote  pollu- 
tion is  so  obvious  at  Warren,  where  the  town  obtains  its  water 
supply  from  the  Allegheny,  that  the  citizens  demand  a  discontinuance 
of  the  discharge  of  all  wastes  from  chemical  plants  into  any  waters. 


39 


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As  stated  before  these  plants  manufacture  charcoal,  wood  alcohol 
and  acetate  of  lime.  The  only  raw  material  employed  is  wood  from 
deciduous  trees,  maple,  beech,  and  birch  being  preferred.  The  trees 
are  cut  into  lengths  of  three  to  four  feet  and  air  dried  in  piles  either 
in  the  woods  or  in  the  wood  yards  of  the  factory.  Without  further 
treatment,  these  Lengths  of  wood  are  placed  in  retorts  which  are  built 
in  paiis,  each,  pair  being  heated  by  a  single  furnace.  Each  retort 
has  its  own  condenser  which  is  cooled  with  water  drawn  from  the 
stream  or  pumped  from  wells  in  case  the  supply  available  from  the 
stream  is  inadequate.  The  heating  is  continued  for  possibly  eighteen 
to  twenty  hours;  at  the  end  of  this  time  the  wood  is  reduced  to  char- 
coal and  tar,  while  the  volatile  matter  and  moisture  have  been  con- 
densed as  pyroligneous  acid.  The  charcoal  is  raked  from  the  retorts 
into  iron  drums  which  are  sealed  with  clay  and  allowed  to  cool;  after 
cooling  the  charcoal  is  ready  for  the  market.  The  pyroligneous  acid 
goes  first  to  the  tar  separators  in  which  most  of  the  tar  is  removed 
by  settling  while  the  "liquor"  containing  the  alcohol  and  acetic  acid 
together  with  the  such  impurities  as  acetone  and  other  organic  sub- 
stani  es  is  run  into  (lie  mixing  tubs.  In  these  tubs  the  liquor  is  mixed 
with  milk  of  lime  which  fixes  the  acetic  acid  as  calcium  acetate,  from 
which  the  wood  alcohol  may  be  separated  by  distillation.  The  con- 
tents of  the  mixing  tubs  are  placed  in  stills,  called  the  "coppers,"  and 
heat  is  applied  until  all  the  alcohol  has  been  driven  off  and  collected 
through  the  condenser.  The  liquid  remaining  in  the  still  is  a  solu- 
tion of  acetate  of  lime  and  sludge  of  the  salts  and  hydroxide  of  mag- 
nesium and  other  insoluble  impurities  introduced  with  the  lime  in 
the  mixing  tubs.  The  acetate  of  lime  solution  is  run  directly  to 
evaporating  pans  and  the  sludge  is  placed  in  a. box  provided  with 
some  filtering  material,  such  as  burlap,  and  allowed  to  drain.  It  is 
then  leached  with  wrarm  water  until  practically  all  of  the  soluble 
matter  in  it  has  been  removed.  The  liquid  which  drains  out  and 
that  obtained  from  the  leaching  is  added  to  that  already  in  the  evapo- 
rating pans  and  the  whole  evaporated  to  dryness.  The  residue  so 
obtained,  colored  brown  by  the  tar  still  present,  is  placed  in  sacks 
for  sale  as  "brown  acetate  of  lime."  The  material  remaining  after 
the  leaching  of  the  solid  material  from  the  "coppers"  is  a  waste 
product  and  is  either  hauled  out  and  dumped  or  else  it  is  flushed 
into  the  sewer  or  drain. 

The  distillate  from  the  lime  stills  consists  of  methyl  alcohol,  or 
wood  naphtha,  acetone  and  other  impurities,  with  enough  tar  to  give 
it  a  dark  color.  It  is  placed  in  the  alcohol  still  and  heated  with  a 
steam  coil  to  a  temperature  but  little  above  the  boiling  point  of  the 
alcohol.  The  first  distillate  from  this  still  will  run  as  high  as  eighty- 
nine  per  cent,  alcohol.  After  the  heating  has  been  continued  some 
time  the  receiver  is  changed  and  another  portion  collected,  until  the 


42 


distillate  is  too  poor  in  alcohol  to  pay  for  further  heating.  This 
second  portion  may  run  as  low  as  two  per  cent,  alcohol.  The  dis- 
tillates are  sold  as  different  grades  of  "crude  alcohol."  The  residual 
liquor  in  the  stills  is  called  "alcohol  water"  and  in  every  case  is 
emptied  into  the  sewer  or  drain. 

The  tar  from  the  retorts  and  the  tar  from  separators  is  placed  in 
tar-stills  and  the  moisture  removed  by  heating.  This  increases  the 
fuel  value  of  the  tar.  The  distillate  from  these  stills  is  collected  in 
tanks  and  separates  into  two  layers.  The  upper  layer  is  called 
"chemical  oil"  and  is  probably  all  creosote  oil.  The  lower  layer  is 
weak  acetic  acid.  The  amount  of  this  distillate  is  small  and  the 
tanks  are  allowed  nearly  a  week  to  fill  and  settle.  At  the  end  of  this 
time  the  bottom  or  watery  layer  is  drawn  off  through  a  tap  in  the 
bottom  and  run  into  the  mixing  tub  for  treatment  with  lime  and 
subsequent  distillation  as  explained  above.  In  the  majority  of  the 
plants  the  "chemical  oil"  is  run  into  the  tar  pit  and  fired  under  the 
boilers  through  a  steam  jet.  The  tar  remaining  in  the  still  after  the 
liquor  and  chemical  oil  have  been  removed  is  also  run  into  the  tar 
pit  and  used  for  fuel.  In  a  few  of  the  plants  the  chemical  oil  is 
collected  and  sold,  bringing  about  ten  cents  a  gallon. 

From  this  brief  description  it  will  be  seen  that  there  are  three 
main  products  of  commercial  value:  charcoal,  wood  alcohol  and 
acetate  of  lime.  The  amount  of  these  procured  from  one  cord  of 
wood  are — charcoal,  forty  to  forty-five  bushels;  wood  alcohol,  nine  to 
eleven  gallons ;  acetate  of  lime,  200  pounds.  In  addition  to  these,  tar 
and  chemical  oil  possessing  certain  fuel  value  are  produced  and  used 
at  the  plant.  The  waste  products  are  the  lime  sludge  and  "alcohol 
water."  Besides  these  there  is  one  other  form  of  pollution  going  into 
the  stream  and  this  is  the  water  used  about  once  a  week  for  washing 
out  the  stills. 


Section  2 — Soil  and  Agriculture. 

Forty-two  per  cent,  of  the  basin  is  forest  covered.  The  soil  is 
generally  poor.  The  country  drained  by  the  head  waters  of  the  Alle- 
gheny Kiver  lying  in  the  northeastern  section  of  the  basin  in  western 
Potter  and  eastern  McKean  counties  is  not  extensively  devoted  to 
farming.  Most  of  the  farm  lauds  in  this  territory  are  found  in  the 
valley  of  Potato  Creek  and  along  the  Allegheny  immediately  below 
the  junction  of  Potato  Creek.  Practically  the  whole  basin  in  New 
York  State  is  well  farmed  except  in  the  southern  part  where  burnt 
over  waste  land  abounds  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Chatauqua  Lake 
where  there  are  considerable  areas  of  second  growth  timber      The 


43 


portion  of  Warren  Couuly  bordering  the  Allegheny  River  and  its 
tributaries  is  well  adapted  to  farming  and  agriculture  in  the  valley 
of  the  Brokenstraw  and  Conewango  Creeks  takes  precedence  over  all 
other  interests.  Throughout  the  central  portion  of  the  Allegheny 
basin  the  soil  is  not  as  a  rule  utilized  extensively  for  farming  since 
the  land  is  besl  adapted  to  grazing.  In  the  southern  part  of  the  basin, 
however,  the  surface  is  capable  of  profitable  cultivation  and  numerous 
well  kept  farms  are  found  throughout  this  section. 

In  Bulletin  No.  207  of  the  Twelfth  Census  the  total  acreage  in  farms 
in  L899,  covering  the  entire  area  of  nineteen  counties  all  or  part  of 
which  are  in  the  Allegheny  basin,  is  given  as  6,308,025  and  the  im- 
proved acreage  as  4,070,402.  The  following  table  based  on  that  bulle- 
tin shows  the  percentage  of  improved  areas  to  the  total  areas: 


TABLE  XXVIII.— Approximate  Exteut  of  Improved  Land  in  the  Allegheny  Basin. 


S 

4 

s 

fa 

a 

•a 

t» 

Counties. 

_a 

a 

if 

a 

o 

e 

fc 

Allegheny, 

Armstrong, 

Bntler,      

Cambria 

Clarion 

Clearfield 

Crawford 

Elk 

Erie 

Forest,      

Indiana 

.Tefferson,     

McKean 

Mercer 

Potter,     

Somerset,     

Venango 

Warren,      

Westmoreland, 


756 

68.4 

6:>-l 

66.2 

788 

66.6 

699 

31.3 

609 

50.2 

1,155 

22.fi 

1,036 

55.5 

809 

6.8 

808 

55.4 

434 

7.9 

836 

63.0 

661 

38.9 

990 

11.4 

700 

63.8 

1,078 

18.0 

1,038 

42.1 

682 

71.9 

910 

22.6 

1,063 

58.4 

The  soil  is  a  natural  resource  which  is  bound  to  receive  scientific 
attention  in  the  future  when  the  economies  of  the  time  shall  make  it 
plain  that  this  must  be  done. 


Section  3. — Coal  and  Coke. 

Bituminous  coal  is  by  far  the  most  important  mineral  resource 
of  the  Allegheny  basin.  No  anthracite  coal  is  found  within  its  borders. 
The  great  bituminous  coal  fields  of  Pennsylvania  extend  from  the 
southwestern  border  of  the  State,  northeasterly  nearly  to  the  New 


44 


L    EA    R    FIELD 


A   L  L   E  G  HlffN 


'  W  E  S>vM  »'.R  E  L  AND/.' 


RIA 

Chart  No.  2 

showing- 
location   OF 
Bituminous  Coal  Mines 

IN 

Allegheny  Basin 

(Principal    Operations) 


York  State  line  covering  practically  the  entire  western  portion  of 
Pennsylvania.  The  coal  bearing  rocks  are  found  in  every  county 
represented  in  the  basin  except  Erie  County,  although  the  coal  found 
near  the  northern  and  northwestern  margins  consists  mainly  of  scat- 
tering outcrops  on  the  hill  tops. 

The  upper  Carboniferous  series  which  produce  all  the  bituminous 
coal  are  sub-divided,  beginning  with  the  lowest,  into  the  following 
formations: 

The  Pottsville,  or  Conglomerate ; 

The  Allegheny,  or  Lower  Productive  measures; 

The  Conemaugh,  or  Lower  Barren  measures; 

And  the  Monongahela,  or  Upper  Productive  measures. 

The  Pottsville  coal  measures  are  the  lowest  in  the  series  and  are 
mined  chiefly  in  the  extensive  outcrops  near  the  margins  of  the 
fields.  The  Conemaugh  yields  little  coal  while  the  Allegheny  and 
Monongahela  formations  produce  about  ninety-five  per  cent,  of  the 
output.  Opportunities  for  further  development  are  confined  to  the 
Allegheny  formation,  and  mainly  the  lower  and  upper  Kittanning 
and  upper  Freeport  seams.  With  an  increasing  demand  and  exhaus- 
tion of  some  of  the  rich  veins  now  being  worked,  it  is  probable  that 
the  Brookville  and  Clarion  seams  will  be  more  extensively  worked. 

Table  XXIX  shows  how  great  a  tonnage  of  bituminous  coal  is  pro- 
duced in  the  Allegheny  basin  counties,  compared  with  the  production 
in  Pennsylvania  and  the  United  States.  The  figures  given  for  the 
Allegheny  basin  include  the  entire  production  of  all  the  counties 
which  lie  wholly  or  partly  in  the  basin  and  so  they  do  not  accurately 
represent  the  actual  production  within  the  basin. 


TABLE  XXIX.— Production  of  Bituminous  Coal  in  Short  Tons. 


1830, 
1891, 
1892, 
1893. 
1S94, 
1895, 
1896, 
1S97, 
1898, 
1S99, 
1900, 
1901, 
1902, 
1903, 
1904, 
1905, 
1906, 
1907, 
190S, 
1909, 
1910, 


Allegheny 

Basin 
Counties. 


904,000 
734,000 
955,000 
209,000 
571,000 
358,000 
470,000 
792,000 
403,000 
245.000 
354,000 
035,000 
832, 000 
779,000 
739,000 
544,000 
477.000 
42S.OOO 
,366.000 
676,000 
5"-5 .  nnn 


Pennsyl- 
vania. 


SS4.000 
SO6.00O 
582,000 

422,000 
800,000 
SIS, 000 
2S5.00O 
625,000 
24S,000 
067,000 
318,000 
914,000 
529,000 
714,000 
600  000 
362,000 
533.000 
559,000 
937,000 
206,000 
,771,000 


United 
States. 


111,302,000 
117,901.000 
126,857,000 
128,385,000 
US, 820. 000 
135,118.000 
137,640.000 
147,618.000 
166,594.000 
193,323,000 
212,316,000 
225,828.000 
26O.217.0C0 
282,749,000 
278,660,000 
315,259,000 
342.S75.000 
394,759,000 
332.574,000 
379,744.000 
417,111,000 


45 


Allowance  should  be  made  for  the  Large  operations  in  the  outlying 

portions  of  the  border  counties  such  as  Clearfield,  Cambria,  Somerset, 

Allegheny  and  Westmoreland.    In  Table  XXX  is  given  the  production 

for  the  year  L907  Tor  all  oi'  the  counties  in  the  basin,  sub-divided  so 

»w  thai  of  t!:»>  hundred  million  tons  produced  in  these  counties 

thai  year,  44,000,000  were  mined   wholly  within   the  basin  and 

10,000  tons  were  mined,   in   the  border  counties  but  outside  the 

basin. 

TABLE  XXX.— Coal  Production  of  Allegheny  Basin  by  Counties  for  1907  in  Tons. 


U 

o 

t-. 

>} 

o    . 

—    £■ 

33  s 

*■§ 

Counties— All  or   Pari    iu    Basin. 

t-  9 

t~  {• 
p.  - 

£ 

•1  lOB 

basin 

-   o 

•c  g 

"if 

o  — 

H 

fc 

tk 

!.y, 
Armstn 

Butler 

Caiiilui:! 

Clarion 

Clearfield 

Crawford 

Elk 

Erh\     

Forest 



on 

McKenn 





■  i 

»o 

Warren 

, 


18.341.000  ! 
3,56;  ,000 

!   . 
,1 
1,060,000 
7,954,000 

"l.  495,  boo 


r, 594,000 

6,002,000 

6,000 

957,000 

' 7)795*660  i 


2.011,0(10 

. 

06,000 

I. c'.'  J 

1.550,000  ' 


4,94-1,000 

5.957,000 

6,000 

27,090 

"i'sii'oob 


9,S84,0O0 


Total, 


.■    0  ,7:7.111,0 


16,330,000 


S66.0O9 
7,234,0  0 


B,  II  1,000 

'626,066 


2,B-0,w« 
4:,,000 


930,000 
'2,' 926. 666 


. 


For  the  year  1907,  the  44,000,000  tons  of  production  were  distributed 
by  sub-drainage  basins  as  follows: 


Kisklmlnetas    River    Basin 

Mahon  

Red    Bank    Creek    Basin 

Clarion     Rivi  



Remaining  Slain   I 

Total    in    Allegheny    Basil 


9  r.ooo 

I,   23, 1 

I 

1.519,000 

I 

5,001,000 


43,671,000 


46 


The  Department  made  an  inspection  at  every  coal  mining  operation 
on  the  basin.  There  are  724  mines  distributed  by  sub-basins  as  follows: 
384  in  the  Kiskiminetas  water  shed. 

229  in  the  tributaries  above — Clarion  River, 58 

Red  Bank  Creek,  . .  77 
Mahoning  Creek,  ...  74 
Crooked  Creek, 20 


220 


111  along  Allegheny  River. 
724  in  the  Allegheny  Basin. 

A  vast  volume  of  acid  mine  drainage  flows  or  is  pumped  from  the 
mines.    It  totals  230  million  gallons  every  24  hours  as  follows: 
144,500,000  gals,  daily  into  Kiskiminetas  River. 

77,500,000  gals,  daily  into  tributaries  above — Clarion  River,  ....  15.8 

Red  Bank  Creek, . .  24.0 

Mahoning  Creek, .  .  32.4 

Crooked  Creek, ....  5.3 


77.5 


17,100,000  gals,  daily  along  Allegheny  River. 


239,100,000  gals,  daily  in  Allegheny  Basin. 

Seventy  of  these  mines  are  operated  by  shaft.  The  others  are  drift 
or  slope  operations.  The  water  has  to  be  pumped  from  136  mines; 
it  flows  by  gravity  out  of  482  mines ;  and  the  balance  discharge  partly 
by  gravity  and  partly  by  pumpage.  This  sulphurous  water  is  the 
most  potent  pollution  of  all  the  industrial  wastes  emptied  into  the 
streams  of  the  basin.  The  coal  will  not  be  exhausted  for  many  genera- 
tions.   Hence  the  regulation  of  this  pollution  requires  consideration. 

In  1875,  coke  took  precedence  of  anthracite  coal,  which  in  1855  had 
taken  the  lead  over  charcoal  in  the  manufacture  of  iron. 

In  the  production  of  coke,  the  Allegheny  Basin  operations  are  im- 
portant. In  the  year  1880,  in  the  basin  there  were  1,165  ovens  produc- 
ing 3S5,000  tons  of  coke.  In  1905,  there  were  7,354  ovens  in  the  basin 
producing  2,500,000  tons  of  coke,  which  was  one-eighth  of  the  coke 
produced  in  Pennsylvania  and  one- thirteenth  of  the  entire  production 
of  the  United  States.  Practically  all  of  the  coke  comes  from  the 
Cambria,  Jefferson  and  Westmoreland  districts. 

In  Table  XXXI  some  data  are  given  showing  the  extent  of  this 
indnstrv: 


47 


TABLE    XXXI.— Coke   Production    of   the   Allegheny    Basin. 


rear. 


1904, 

1906. 


Ovens. 


1,165 
4,506 

.. 
5.  .".70 
5,609 
6,9m> 
..ill 
7,854 


Short  Tons. 


i  mil 
Used. 


566,000 
2,176,000 
3,035,000 
2,776.000 
3,631,000 
3,718,000 
2,699,000 
4,029.000 


Coke 
Produced. 


375.000 
1,386,000 

1,707, 

2,2i  1,000 
2,331,000 
1,652,000 
2,555,000 


Total 

Value  of 
Coke  at 

livens. 


$:3I.23.I 
2,610,146 
8,986,989 

3.318.5.1 
5,398,135 
6,961,554 
3,228,148 
5,506,301 


Entire  State  of  Pennsylvania 


fear. 


44,992 


Short  Tons. 


Coal 
Dsed. 


31,030,000 


Coke 
Produced 


20.574,000 


Totai 

\  nine  of 

Coke  at 
Ovens. 


$42,253,178 


The   Entire   United    States 


fear. 

0\  ens. 

Short  Tons. 

Total 
Value  of 
Coke  at 

<>\  ens. 

Coke 

Used. 

Coke 
Produced 

1905,      

92,315 

19,531,000 

32,231,000 

$72,476,196 

At  some  of  the  coking  operations  the  coal  is  washed  before  it  is 
coked  and  the  dirty  water  goes  to  the  streams  which  it  highly  dis- 
colors 

The  coal  dirt  and  dust  is  transported  during  times  of  freshets  even 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Allegheny  River.  This  pollution  adds  to  the 
problem  of  preserving  the  purity  of  the  waters  in  the  basin,  as  will 
hereafter  appear. 


Section  4- — Iron  Ore  and  Steel  Manufacture. 

Iron  ore  occurs  in  scattered  deposits  throughout  the  Allegheny 
basin.  It  is  mostly  fossil  ore  and  carbonate  ore  of  low  grade.  The 
best  deposits  are  not  uniform  in  quality  nor  extensive.  Before  the 
introduction  of  anthracite  coal  and  of  coke  in  the  manufacture  of 
iron,  the  abundance  of  timber  led  to  the  erection  of  charcoal  furnaces 
near  outcrops  of  the  better  grades  of  ore;  but  the  operations  were 
largely  local  because  of  the  high  cost  of  transportation  of  the  manu- 
factured  product  and  the  uncertainty  as  to  the  quality  and  extent  of 
the  ore  deposits. 


48 


The  ores  of  the  Pottsville  formation  are  of  little  value.  The  Alle- 
gheny fossil  ores,  associated  with  the  limestones,  and  the  Oonemaugh 
carbonate  ores  formed  the  chief  sources  of  supply. 

During  the  first  half  of  the  last  century  a  large  number  of  furnaces 
were  built  in  the  Allegheny  basin,  mainly  in  the  Ligonier  Valley, 
Westmoreland  County,  and  along  the  Allegheny  and  its  tributaries 
in  Armstrong,  Clarion,  and  Indiana  Counties.  Local  operations  of 
minor  importance  were  carried  on  for  a  time  in  Allegneny,  Butler, 
Crawford,  Mercer,  Venango,  Erie,  and  Somerset  Counties. 

The  first  furnace  for  the  production  of  iron  west  of  the  Allegheny 
Mountains  was  known  as  the  "Westmoreland  Furnace".  It  was 
started  up  in  1794  in  the  Ligonier  Valley  on  Furnace  Run  near  Loyal- 
hanna  Creek.  The  first  furnace  in  Somerset  County  was  started  in 
1807,  in  Armstrong  County  in  1818,  in  Clarion  County  in  1828,  in  Ve- 
nango County  in  1830,  in  Indiana  County  in  1840,  and  in  Erie  and 
Cambria  Counties  in  1842.  Extensive  furnaces  at  Brady's  Bend  were 
started  in  1840  and  closed  in  1873.  The  iron  from  these  various 
furnaces,  that  was  not  used  locally,  was  taken  by  pack-horses  or 
wagons  to  the  nearest  navigable  stream  and  thence  by  keel-boat  or 
"arks"  down  the  Youghiogbeny  or  the  Allegheny  and  tributaries  to 
Pittsburgh. 

Improved  methods  were  developed  in  the  manufacture  of  iron, 
timber  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  furnaces  became  exhausted 
and  everything  conspired  to  bring  about  an  abandonment  of  the  fur- 
naces. The  famous  Johnstown  ore  bed,  a  local  but  extensive  deposit 
of  high  grade  ore  was  closed  in  1873.  This  deposit  was  the  chief 
source  of  supply  for  the  Cambria  Iron  Company,  at  Johnstown.  The 
furnaces  there  were  started  in  1853.  A  Bessemer  furnace  plant  was 
first  started  on  July  10th,  1871,  and  resulted  in  the  closing  of  the 
Johnstown  ore  mines  two  years  later. 

The  industry  is  the  most  important  one  in  Pennsylvania.  The  ores 
are  now  imported ;  but  the  coal  and  the  coke  and  the  limestone  and 
the  skilled  labor  are  local.  The  industry  is  a  permanent  one  together 
with  its  allied  manufactures.  So  important  has  the  water  supply  be- 
come to  these  industries,  that  the  purity  of  the  streams  demands  con- 
sideration from  an  economic  point  of  view.  Extensive  water  softening 
plants  may  now  be  found  at  all  of  the  important  iron  and  steel  mills 
in  the  basin. 

The  modern  furnaces  and  iron  and  steel  mills  use  enormous  quanti- 
ties of  water.  From  the  plants,  spent  acid,  pickling  liquors,  sewage 
and  other  wastes  are  discharged  into  the  streams  and  pollute  the 
waters.  At  some  of  the  mills  it  is  profitable  to  reclaim  certain  by- 
products that  were  formerly  wasted  to  the  stream. 


4? 


Section  5. — Petroleum  and  Natural  Gas. 

Petroleum  in  America  was  known  and  valued  for  its  medicinal 
properties  from  very  early  times  as  is  evidenced  from  the  finding  by 
the  earliest  settlers  of  many  large  pits  in  the  vicinity  of  Oil  Creek, 
Venango  County,  frequently  log  lined,  in  which  oil  was  collected. 
The  Indians  used  this  oil  extensively  as  a  remedy,  attributing  the 
pits  to  an  earlier  race  of  higher  civilization,  presumably  contempora- 
neous with  the  Mound  Builders  and  Copper  Miners  of  Lake  Superior. 

Beginning  with  the  first  drilled  well  in  1S0G,  many  wells  were  put 
down  in  Kentucky  and  West  Virginia  for  salt  brine.  These  also  fre- 
quently yielded  quantities  of  petroleum  which  was  considered  a 
nuisance  and  allowed  to  run  to  waste.  In  1829,  one  of  these  Kentucky 
wells  struck  pure  oil  flowing  intermittently  at  periods  of  a  few  min- 
utes which  was  later  bottled  and  sold  in  some  quantities  previous  to 
I860,  as  "The  American  Medicinal  Oil." 

As  early  as  1833,  Doctor  S.  P.  Hildreth,  pointed  out  the  value  of 
the  oil  obtained  from  the  salt  wells  along  the  Kanawha  as  an  illumi- 
nant  and  lubricant.  Little  attention  was  paid  to  its  possibilities  until 
about  1855,  when  S.  M.  Kier  sold  the  oil  from  salt  wells  at  Tarentum 
as  a  panacea  for  all  ills  and  began  refining  it  as  an  illuminant 

The  petroleum  industry  of  this  country  may  be  said  to  have  had 
its  origin  in  Venango  County  near  the  mouth  of  Oil  Creek,  a  tributary 
of  the  Allegheny  Biver,  in  1855.  At  that  time  operations  were  begun 
on  a  small  scale  to  obtain  oil  from  surface  workings  by  skimming  off 
the  oil  floating  on  the  water  near  the  oil  springs  in  that  neighborhood. 
With  a  view  of  obtaining  the  oil  in  larger  quantities,  the  first  well 
drilled  for  this  purpose  in  the  country  and  probably  in  the  world, 
was  put  down  near  Titusville  in  185!).  Oil  was  struck  at  a  depth 
of  sixty-nine  feet  yielding  to  the  pump  about  twenty-five  barrels  daily. 
The  fame  of  this  so-called  "Drake  Well"  led  immediately  to  the  sink- 
ing of  others  and  the  industry  developed  rapidly  until  the  Oil  Creek 
neighborhood  became  a  scene  of  wild  excitement.  Speculation  ran  riot 
and  enormous  fortunes  were  made  and  frequently  lost.  The  success 
of  the  Oil  Creek  field  was  followed  by  the  location  of  new  fields  in  var- 
ious parts  of  the  Upper  Allegheny  Basin.  From  25  barrels  daily  in 
August,  1859,  production  increased  to  15,000  barrels  a  day  in  1862. 
The  effect  of  this  enormous  output  was  to  bring  the  price  so  low  that 
in  May,  1805,  the  production  had  been  reduced  to  about  4,000  barrels 
daily.    Probably  10,000,000  barrels  of  oil  ran  to  waste  on  this  account. 

Oil  City  Mas  the  centre  of  the  petroleum  industry  at  this  time. 
Production  in  the  Allegheny  Basin  increased  with  the  growth  of 
the  market  until  1882.  when  it  reached  its  maximum,  approximately 

50 


>—?/& 


Allegheny    River    Basin 

SHOWING 


L  jr    '*0Z$'Z.  A«v  E  T  T  e/So  m  E\g>/TiPETR°LEUM  a,  Natural  Gas  Fields 
tfffefyfi  e>*  (  j      Pettoleom-^       Natural  Gas- 

.w  JTiv  '— 


70  per  cent,  of  the  output  of  the  entire  conn  try.  After  this  there  was 
a  decrease  in  production.  In  L896,  owing  to  the  development  of 
fields  outside  of  the  Allegheny  Basin,  the  production  was  less  than 
one-quarter  of  the  total  for  the  United  States  and  about  two-thirds  of 
that  for  Pennsylvania.  Science  or  experience  has  demonstrated  no  defi 
nite  way  of  estimating  the  extent  of  oil  and  gas  resources.  Much  of  the 
area  in  the  Allegheny  Basin  is  entirely  depleted.  Parts  of  the  older 
section  have  been  reduced  from  an  output  of  many  hundreds  of  barrels 
a  well  each  day  to  about  two  or  three  barrels;  and  many  wells  i 
been  abandoned. 

Oil  is  mainly  found  in  the  anticlines  or  pockets  formed-  by  the 
folded  strata  where  it  has  collected,  usually  in  the  porous  sand- 
stones which  are  overlaid  by  more  impervious  formations.  It  is  often 
found  associated  with  salt  water  and  gas  with  the  heavier  water  be- 
low and  the  lighter  gas  above. 

The  Allegheny  Kiver  surface  is  streaked  with  oil.  The  oil  collects 
around  the  wells  and  tanks  on  the  watershed.  Some  escapes  at  re- 
fineries. The  injurious  effect  of  this  pollution  is  very  pronounced 
even  as  far  as  Pittsburgh  as  will  be  shown  later. 

The  decline  in  oil  production  has  been  felt  at  Bradford,  Warren, 
Titusville,  Oil  City,  Franklin,  Parker  and  at  other  places  in  the 
Allegheny  Basin.  Bradford  is  recovering.  New  enterprises  are  being 
secured.  This  city  is  a  centre  for  the  chemical  industry  of  the  Upper 
Basin.  Franklin  City  has  the  largest  refinery  in  the  world.  From 
crude  oil  come  hundreds  of  by-products.  There  is  one  by-product 
which  forms  naturally  on  the  ground  at  the  wells  and  around  tanks 
where  oil  escapes.  It  is  paraffine.  Paraffine  is  also  found  on  the 
rocks  and  shores  of  the  streams  in  the  oil  fields.  In  time  it  washes  off 
and  floats  down  to  Pittsburgh  where  it  interferes  with  the  operation 
of  the  city  filters  at  Aspinwall. 

The  natural  gas  fields  are  closely  related  to  the  oil  fields.  The 
known  productive  areas  are  quite  extensive  in  Venango,  Armstrong. 
Clarion  and  Westmoreland  counties,  with  many  small  fields  scattered 
generally  throughout  the  basin.  Extensive  use  of  natural  gas  for 
commercial  purposes  was  begun  about  1883,  although  for  some  years 
it  had  been  used  locally  as  fuel.  Many  of  the  oil  wells  produce  suffi- 
cient gas  for  their  own  pumping.  Back  in  1864,  gas  was  struck  in  a 
well  drilled  for  oil  at  Weikel  Run.  The  well  was  plugged  and  aban- 
doned. This  was  the  practice  for  many  years  until  the  commercial 
value  of  gas  was  realized.  Then  it  was  thought  that  the  supply  was 
inexhau stable  which  led  to  enormous  waste  of  it.  The  producers  sold 
the  gas  at  a  flat  rate  and  at  extremely  low  prices.  There  was  no 
incentive  to  save  this  natural  product.  The  value  of  the  output  in 
Pennsylvania  was  $75,000  in  1882.  In  1888,  it  was  119,000.000.  The 
value  then   dropped  to  $11,000,000  in  1889,  and  then  to  |5,000,000 


51 


in  1896.  Thereafter  there  was  a  steady  rise  in  value  unul  the  $19.- 
000,000  mark  was  passed  in  1905.  The  actual  volume  of  gas  has  prob- 
ably diminished  since  the  price  has  greatly  advanced  and  compulsory 
use  of  meters  has  prevented  the  former  enormous  waste.  Natural  gas 
is  now  chiefly  used  for  domestic  purposes.  The  greater  part  of  the  gas 
produced  in  Pennsylvania  at  present  comes  from  the  southern  fields. 
Extensive  explorations  give  little  hope  of  replenishing  the  rapidly 
diminishing  output  from  the  Allegheny  Basin;  hut  at  the  coke  ovens 
great  volumes  of  gas  are  wasted  every  day  as  a  by-product.  Un- 
doubtedly this  economic  crime  will  be  corrected.  At  some  of  the 
gas  wells  there  is  a  flow  of  salt  water  which  mingles  with  the  natur- 
ally pure  waters  of  the  streams  and  renders  them  unfit  for  domestic 
uses  below.  This  matter  needs  to  be  most  carefully  watched.  There 
is  no  way  of  economically  removing  objectionable  quantities  of  saline 
ingredients  from  water,  once  these  ingredients  have  been  permitted 
to  characterize  the  water.  The  remedy  is  one  of  prevention  in  the 
first  place. 


Section  6. — Clay  and  Clay  Products. 

The  clay  deposits  of  the  Allegheny  Basin  are  of  great  value.  Penn- 
sylvania leads  in  the  production  of  fire  brick.  In  the  total  value  of 
clay  products  it  is  second  only  to  Ohio.  Nearly  one-half  of  the  fire 
brick  produced  in  the  United  States  comes  from  Pennsylvania.  Clays 
and  shales,  making  this  possible,  are  found  widely  distributed  through- 
out the  basin,  mainly  south  of  the  terminal  moraine.  They  belong  to 
the  Devonian  and  Carboniferous  systems,  though  the  former  is 
little  used.  The  clays  used  in  the  manufacture  of  common  brick, 
pressed  brick  and  terra  cotta,  are  derived  mainly  from  the  decomposed 
carboniferous  shales.  The  stoneware  clays  are  found  in  the  lower  coal 
measures,  especially  those  underlying  the  Lower  Kittanning.  The 
fire  clays  are  found  in  the  basin  generally  underlying  the  coal  seams 
of  the  Pottsville  and  Allegheny  formations.  Of  the  Pottsville,  the 
Alton  clay  is  found  in  Elk  County;  the  Mercer  (possibly  the  same 
as  the  Alton)  in  Butler  and  Mercer  Counties;  and  the  Sharon  in 
Elk  and  Mercer  Counties.  The  Allegheny  series  yields  five 
clays  of  economic  importance;  the  Brookville,  found  in  Clear- 
field, Elk,  and  Jefferson  Counties;  the  Clarion,  found  in  Indiana 
County;  the  Ferriferous,  found  in  Armstrong  County;  the  Kittanning, 
found  in  Armstrong  and  Westmoreland  Counties;  and  the  Upper  Free- 
port,  or  Bolivar  clay,  found  in  Allegheny,  Armstrong,  Butler,  Indiana, 
Somerset,  and  Westmoreland  counties.  The  last  is  very  extensively 
mined,  especially  in  the  vicinity  of  Bolivar,  Indiana  County. 

Large  plants  for  the  manufacture  of  clay  products  are  located  at 
the  following  places: 

52 


TABLE  XXXII.— Large  Plants  for  the  Manufacture  of  Clay  Products. 


1  mack  Lick. 

2  Barking. 

3  Bolivar. 

4  Cowanshanuock. 

5  Climax. 

6  Johnstown. 


FIRE   BRICK. 


7  Johnsonburg. 
x  Kingston. 
:i  Kii  tanning. 
io  Lockport. 

11  Manorvllle. 

12  Monmoutli. 


13  Mineral   Point. 

U  St.    Charles   Station. 

15  Salina. 

16  South    Fork. 

17  SligO. 

18  Tylereburg. 


1  New   Kensington. 

2  Black  Lick. 

3  Kittanning. 


PAVING    BRICK. 

4  Hyde   Park. 

5  Ridgeway. 

6  Johnsonburg. 


7  Falls  Creek. 

8  Bolivar. 

'J  Johnstown. 


1  Ford  City. 

2  Hawthorne. 


POTTERY    BRICK. 
3  Kittanning. 


4  New    Bethlehem. 

5  Girty. 


1  Ford   City. 

2  Kittanning. 

3  Ligonier. 


BUILDING   BRICK. 

4  Black   Lick. 

5  Blairsville. 

6  Blairsville   Int. 


7  Sheridan. 

8  Johnstown. 

9  Hyde  Park. 


1  Kittanning. 


TERRA  COTTA  TILE  AND   PIPE. 
2  Johnetta. 


3  St.  Marys. 


These  works  do  not  especially  contribute  to  stream  pollution;  but 
they  mean  a  substantial  cominunit}^  from  which  sewage  is  discharged 
into  State  waters. 


Section  7. — Miscellaneous  Minerals  and  Products. 

The  fossiliferous  limestone  is  the  most  extensive  outcrop  in  the 
Clarion  River  section,  covering  a  broad  central  belt  averaging  eight 
feet  thick.  The  Freeport  upper  limestone  is  high  in  lime  and  low  in 
phosphorous  and  is  said  to  be  the  best  flux  in  the  region.  It  is  used 
at  the  Kittanning  furnaces. 

A  fair  quality  of  sandstone  for  building  purposes  is  found  in  the 
basin.  There  are  extensive  quarries  at  Cowanshanuock,  Tenipleton, 
Freeport,  and  on  the  river  above  Oil  City. 

Glass  sand  rock  is  found  notably  at  Kennerdell.  Deposits  are 
also  found  elsewhere  but  they  are  not  extensive.  The  manufacture  of 
glass  is  an  important  industry  in  the  region.  There  are  twelve  works 
along  the  main  stream  and  fourteen  on  the  tributaries  making  twenty- 
six  in  the  Allegheny  Basin.  Some  local  sand  is  used  but  most  of  it 
is  shipped  in  from  parts  of  Pennsylvania  east  of  the  Allegheny  Ridge. 


53 


During  the  first  half  of  the  last  century  salt  was  an  important  in- 
dustry along  the  Lower  Allegheny  River  and  Kiskiminetas.  There 
are  extensive  deposits  of  rode  salt  which  yield  abundant  salt  water. 
As  cheaper  methods  of  production  were  developed  outside  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, this  industry  declined. 

Large  mineral  springs  round  in  the  northern  part  of  the  basin 
especially  in  Crawford  and  Venango  Counties,  have  led  to  the  es- 
tablishment of  summer  resorts  and  sanatoria.  The  waters  are  ex- 
tensive'1,- l>nt tied.  Among  the  more  important  of  these  springs  may 
be  mentioned  those  at  Cambridge  Springs  and  at  Saegertown,  Craw- 
ford- County. 

The  utilization  of  these  mineral  resources  has  materially  advanced 
the  prosperity  of  the  inhabitants.  It  has  aided  in  the  maintenance 
and  growth  of  communities  and  it  has  been  accompanied  by  the  sew- 
age pollution  of  the  streams  draining  the  localities  occupied  by 
them.  There  is  a  minor  pollution  even  at  some  of  the  best  plants  due 
to  the  discharge  of  scorning  waters  and  spent  liquors. 


Section  S. — Water  Supply,  Power,  and  Transportation. 

The  water  resources  of  the  Allegheny  Basin  are  tremendous  in  possi- 
bilities. Elsewhere  in  the  report  will  be  found  detailed  mention  of  the 
uses  of  the  streams  for  water  supply,  power,  and  transportation. 
There  are  at  present  several  very  large  hydro-electric  power  develop- 
;  projects  under  consideration  by  private  capatalists.  If  the 
water  resources  of  the  entire  basin  were  to  be  studied  as  a  wdiole  and 
a  system  for  their  perfect  development  were  mapped  out  in  a  compre- 
hensive manner  and  then  followed  as  time  went  on,  the  waters  could 
be  put  to  their  various  uses  to-the  best  advantage  and  for  the  greatest 
benefit  to  the  inhabitants.  Such  a  procedure  would  demand  a  study 
by  the  State  and  the  adoption  of  a  policy  of  control.  At  present 
very  little  has  been  done  in  the  way  of  developing  water  power.  There 
are  seventy-four  small  water  power  plants  on  the  basin  now.  Three 
of  them  are  in  New  York  State. 

In  the  early  development  of  Pittsburgh,  the  transportation  afforded 
by  the  natural  waterways  was  of  great  importance.  The  first  steam 
boat  on  the  western  rivers  was  built  at  Pittsburgh  in  1811.  As 
previously  stnted.  the  Allegheny  River  has  been  improved  by  the 
Federal  Government  with  a  system  of  locks  and  dams  which  main- 
tain slack  water  at  a  depth  of  eight  feet  twenty-four  miles  up  stream 
to  Natrona.  Above  Natrona  the  river  is  navigable  for  shallow  boats. 
At  shoals,  the  Government  has  built  dykes  to  improve  the  depth. 
The  Allegheny  has  been  navigated  by  a  steam  boat  as  far  as  Clean, 

54 


254  miles  above  the  mouth;  but  the  river  traffic  has  never  been  active 
above  Kittanning  in  recent  years.  Naviga  1  ion  cannot  be  accomplished 
at  usual  low  water.  The  floating  of  boats  is  not  attempted  at  a 
stage  less  than  eighteen  inches  over  riffles  and  is  usually  done  at 
favorable  spring  and  autumn  stages  of  about  four  feet  at  Franklin 
to  ten  foet  at  Pittsburgh. 

The  importance  of  water  transportation  to  the  new  western  country 
a  century  ago,  led  to  an  early  development  of  waterways.  In  1834, 
the  Pennsylvania  Canal  was  built  across  the  State  from  east  to  west 
connecting  tide  water  with  Pittsburgh.  The  Canal  passed  up  the 
Juniata  V'alley  westward  to  Holidaysburg.  Here  the  boats  were  trans- 
ferred to  carriages  that  passed  over  the  mountains  on  a  system  of 
inclined  planes  to  Johnstown,  whence  the  Canal  continued  to  Pitts- 
burgh via  the  Conemaugh  and  Kiskiminetas  and  Allegheny  Rivers. 
Improvements  in  water  transportation  were  made  along  French  Creek 
and  the  upper  Allegheny  River ;  but  these  were  all  abandoned  thirty  or 
forty  years  ago  to  make  way  for  the  steam  railroad.  Ultimately 
waterway  transportation  may  again  return  with  the  development  of 
water  power  and  be  an  asset  of  the  Allegheny  Basin. 

With  the  impounding  of  enormous  quantities  of  water  will  come 
a  change  and  improvement  in  the  quality  of  the  water.  There  will 
be  less  turbidity  and  more  dilution  and  consequently  less  hardness 
and  acidity  and  greater  potability  and  purity  of  water.  Fish  life 
ouffht  also  to  be  more  abundant. 


Section  9. — Fish  as  Food. 

Before  the  waters  of  the  Allegheny  Basin  were  polluted  by  indus- 
trial waste  and  by  sewage,  fish  were  abundant  in  the  streams  and  they 
furnished  a  staple  article  of  food  for  man.  Now  in  many  of  the 
streams  fish  life  is  extinct  because  of  the  pollutions.  Thousands  of 
them  perish  at  a  time  and  float  down  the  river.  Sometimes  they 
strand,  decompose  and  produce  a  nuisance  that  is  the  subject  of  com- 
plaint to  the  health  authorities.  Water  that  is  not  fit  for  fish  to  live 
in  may  not  be  considered  enticing  as  a  source  of  supply  for  towns. 
It  is  important  that  the  streams  should  be  stocked  and  that  the  waters 
of  these  stocked  streams  should  be  at  least  pure  enough  to  support 
fish  life.  The  Commonwealth  maintains  a  Department  of  Fisheries 
and  laws  are  being  administered  whose  object  is  to  restore  to  the 
streams  normal  aquatic  life. 

The  streams  of  the  Allegheny  Basin  that  are  not  too  grossly  polluted 
were  stocked  by  the  State  Department  of  Fisheries  with  various  kinds 
of  food  and  game  fish.    During  1908  six  per  cent,  of  the  total  output 

55 


of  the  eight  Slate  Hatcheries  was  placed  in  these  waters.  This 
stocking  comprised  2.5  million  trout,  14  million  yellow  perch,  9.5 
million  pike  perch,  13  million  pickerel,  besides  480,000  fish  of  other 

varieties. 


Seel  ion  10. — Railroads. 

In  the  development  of  the  natural  resources  and  in  supplanting 
waterway  transportation,  a  net  work  of  steam  railroads  has  been 
built  which  reaches  within  ten  miles  of  every  point  within  the  Alle- 
gheny Basin  and  there  are  very  few  points  indeed  ten  miles  remote 
from  such  transportation.  The  Allegheny  River  itself  is  followed  by 
railroads  throughout  its  length  and  the  same  is  substantially  true  of 
all  its  main  tributaries.  Two  exceptions  might  be  made,  namely 
Mahoning  and  Crooked  Creeks.  However,  railroads  traverse  a  large 
portion  of  the  length  of  both  these  streams,  but  leave  the  watershed 
some  distance  above  their  confluence  with  the  Allegheny. 

There  arc  twelve  railroad  systems  represented  in  the  Basin  totalling 
a  mileage  of  2,259.  One  system  has  twelve  miles  only  in  the  Basin. 
The  Pennsylvania  Railroad  System  is  the  largest,  having  1,048  miles 
in  the  Basin. 

There  are  seventeen  independent  railroad  companies  in  the  Basin 
ranging  in  length  from  one  to  eighty-live  miles  and  aggregating  a 
total  mileage  of  27G.  So  there  are  2,535  miles  of  steam  railroads 
operated  in  the  Allegheny  Basin. 

Applying  average  figures  for  the  entire  State  to  the  mileage  within 
the  Basin,  it  will  appear  that  there  are  approximately  7,000  passengers 
and  employees  constantly  travelling  on  the  trains  in  the  Basin.  There 
are  also  about  400  employees  continuously  at  work  along  the  tracks. 
It  is  manifestly  impossible  even  to  estimate  the  degree  of  danger  to 
public  health  which  results  from  the  sewage  pollution  of  the  streams 
draining  the  roadbeds  of  the  railroads.  The  pollutions  from  passenger 
coaches  passing  over  an  upland  and  uninhabited  watershed,  the  waters 
of  which  aie  used  as  a  source  of  drinking  water  in  a  town  near  by, 
are  believed  to  have  caused  at  least  one  typhoid  epidemic.  It  is  evi- 
dent that  where  the  streams  are  polluted  with  the  sewage  of  com- 
ninnities.  this  additional  pollution  is  relatively  not  important  but 
it  i^  evident  thai  on  uninhabited  watersheds  where  the  streams  flow 
swiftly  and  quickly  carrying  any  pollutions  entering  them  to  the 
water  consumers  in  the  town,  the  menace  is  no  negligible  matter 
and  that  the  hazard  to  public  health  should  be  lessened. 


:,<; 


Chart  No.  4 


»  SHOWING  MAIN  STREAMS 


/  Allegheny  River 
Drainage  Basin. 


Maryland 


PART  IV 


THE  SURVEY  IN  DETAIL. 


This  part  of  the  report  deals  with  the  survey  in  detail.  The"  Alle- 
gheny Basin  is  divided  into  fifteen  sections  for  convenience.  Each 
sub-division  is  treated  separately  and  described  in  consecutive  order 
from  the  source  to  Pittsburgh.  The  points  of  division  arc  Potato 
Creek,'  Oswayo  Creek,  Tunungawant  Creek,  New  York-Pennsylvania 
State  Line,  Conewango  Creek,  Biokenstraw  Creek,  Tionesta  Creek, 
Oil  Creek,  French  Creek,  Clarion  River,  Eed  Bank  Creek,  Mahoning 
Creek,  Crooked  Creek,  Kiskiminetas  River,  and  the  City  of  Pittsburgh. 

In  each  section  the  physical  characteristics,  natural  resources  and 
their  developments,  the  population,  towns — their  situation,  industries, 
water  supply,  sewerage  and  health — purity  of  the  streams  and  the 
polluting  factors  are  described.  In  this  part  the  population  figures 
are  as  estimated  in  1900,  except  in  cases  where  the  Federal  census  of 
1.910  is  noted. 


Section  1. — Source  to  Potato  Creek. 

The  Allegheny  River  rises  in  the  high,  hilly  plateau  region  in  the 
northeastern  part  of  the  basin  at  an  elevation  of  2,250  feet  above  sea 
level.  From  its  source  in  central  Potter  County,  Pennsylvania,  the 
Allegheny  flows  in  a  general  southwesterly  direction  to  below  Couders- 
port,  where  in  a  long  bend  it  turns  to  the  northwest  and  follows  this 
direction,  in  a  meandering  course  to  the  eastern  part  of  McKean 
County,  where  it  is  joined  by  Potato  Creek. 

The  extreme  headwaters  of  the  river  flow  between  low  banks;  the 
valley  often  extending  a  mile  on  each  side  to  the  foot  hills  being  partly 
covered  with  a  good  second  growth  of  hard  woods.  For  about  ten 
miles  on  either  side  of  Coudersport  the  valley  is  partly  farmed,  but 
for  the  most  part  is  covered  with  decaying  logs,  evidence  of  the  waste- 
ful methods  employed  in  early  tan  bark  operations.  Above  Port 
Allegany  the  river  flows  through  a  broad  valley  with  flat,  partly 
farmed  bottom  lands,  many  of  the  farms  extending  up  the  hillsides. 
Near  Sartwell,  McKean  County,  there  are  extensive  groups  of  gas 

57 


wells.  The  steepest  slopes  throughoul  the  length  of  the  river  occur 
in  this  section,  being  about  twenty-seven  feel  to  the  mile,  during  the 

first  thirty  miles.  The  area  of  this  division  of  the  watershed  is 
about  309  square  miles  with  a  population  of  16,070 — urban  8,390 — 
rural  7  680  -giving  a  total  population  of  fifty-four  to  die  square  mile. 

In  the  river  above  Potato  Creek  are  found  both  trout  and  pike  to 
a  considerable  extent  while  in  all  the  tributary  sti earns  trout  are 
plentiful,  being  native  to  these  waters  and  inn  easing  rapidly.  The 
natural  conditions  are  especially  favorable,  this  being  one  of  the  best 
trout  districts  in  Pennsylvania.  The  number  of  fish  found  in  these 
waters  has  been  materially  increased  by  re-stocking  from  the  State 
fish  hatcheries.  Exception  must  be  made  of  those  portions  of  the 
branches  of  the  main  stream  which  receive  the  wastes  from  chemical 
plants,  tanneries,  and  saw  mills.  The  chemical  plant  wastes,  as  well 
as  the  tannery  wastes,  destroy  fish  for  many  miles  down  stream  and 
from  Coudersport  down  there  are  a  number  of  sawmills  which  dis- 
charge quantities  of  sawdust  into  the  stream,  which  at  times  of  low 
water  injures  and  drives  out  many  of  the  fish.  During  times  of  high 
water  the  wastes  from  these  sources  are  so  diluted  that  the  fish  come 
up  stream  even  to  close  proximity  to  the  plants,  remain  in  the  pools 
as  the  water  recedes  and  with  increasing  concentration  of  the  wastes, 
as  the  water  becomes  lower,  are  frequently  destroj^ed  in  large  num- 
bers. 

So  far  as  the  Department  is  informed,  there  are  but  two  water- 
power  installations  on  the  streams  of  this  section  both  of  which  are 
on  the  river  at  Coudersport  and  are  of  minor  importance. 

The  chief  industries  are  the  tanneries,  glass  plants,  chemical  plants, 
saw  mills,  and  other  wood  working  plants.  This  section,  especially 
the  lower  part  near  the  mouth  of  Potato  Creek,  yields  natural  gas 
in  considerable  though  diminishing  quantities.  The  decreasing  sup- 
ply of  gas  here  as  well  as  throughout  the  upper  portion  of  the  Alle- 
gheny Basin,  is  seriously  affecting  the  operation  of  the  numerous 
glass  plants  of  which  there  are  several  at  Coudersport  and  Port 
Allegany. 

Formerly  this  section  was  covered  with  a  thick  growth  of  forest 
and  its  development  centred  around  the  lumber  industry.  At  present 
there  is  little  if  any  virgin  timber  remaining,  although  well  advanced, 
second  growth  timber  forms  a  valuable  asset  and  supports  a  number 
of  sawmills  and  other  wood  working  establishments. 

The  Buffalo  Division  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  follows  the  river 
up  as  far  as  Port  Allegany  and  thence  along  its  south  fork  to  the  head 
waters  of  the  branch.  From  Port  Allegany  to  the  head  waters,  the 
Coudersport  and  Port  Allegany  Railroad  follows  closely  the  main 


58 


stream  with  a  branch  line  extending-  from  Couderspoi  i.  a  few  mile's 
up  one  of  the  tributaries.  The  total  mileage  of  these  i  ailroads  is  about 
fifty-one  miles. 

In  addition  to  the  sewage  pollution  of  a  population  estimated  a1 
8,760 — rural  770,  urban  7,1J90, — this  portion  of  the  river  receives 
manufacturing  wastes  from  the  following  industrial  plants:- The  Elk 
Tanning  Company's  tannery  at  Ooudersport  and  the  .same  company's 
tannery  at  Port  Allegany.  These  are  the  only  tanneries  in  this  sec- 
tion. It  is  reported  that  cattle  belonging  to  riparian  owners  below 
Port  Allegany  have  been  seriously  ail'ected  by  drinking  the  water  of 
the  river,  and  it  is  claimed  that  some  of  them  have  died  of  anthrax, 
attributed  to  tannery  wastes. 

The  wastes  from  chemical  plants  have  already  been  referred  to. 
There  are  five  of  these  plants  in  this  section,  namely  the  Liberty 
Chemical  Products  Company  of  Liberty,  the  Gray  Chemical  Company 
at  Roulette,  the  Wynian  Chemical  Company  of  Port  Allegan}r,  and 
two  plants  of  the  Gray  Chemical  Company  at  Port  Allegany.  The 
last  named  company  reports  that  they  are  now  utilizing  the  wastes 
from  their  plants  at  Port  Allegany  and  Roulette — tar  and  oil  as  fuel 
and  the  waste  from  the  lime  stills  as  fertilizer. 

So  far  as  has  been  ascertained,  there  is  but  one  industrial  water 
supply  system  in  this  territory — that  of  the  Elk  Tanning  Company 
at  Port  Allegany  where  water  for  industrial  purposes  is  drawn  from 
the  Allegheny  River.  For  domestic  consumption,  Coudersport  is 
supplied  from  mountain  streams,  Roulette  from  springs  and  Lanegar 
Creek,  Mina  from  a  spring  and  Port  Allegany  from  mountain  springs 
and  streams. 

Coudersport  is  the  county  seat  of  Potter  County  and  is  an  incor- 
porated borough  with  an  estimated  population  of  3,690.  It  has  grown 
rapidly  in  the  past  but  there  is  no  indication  that  there  will  be  a 
marked  increase  in  the  near  future.  It  is  a  manufacturing  town, 
its  principal  industries  comprising  the  tannery  of  the  Elk  Tanning 
Company,  employing  about  300  men,  a  small  condensed  milk  factory 
and  several  small  plants  for  the  manufacture  of  baskets,  barrels  and 
clothes  pins.  A  water  company  supplies  about  eighty-six  per  cent, 
of  the  population  with  water  from  mountain  streams.  The  manufac- 
tural  wastes  contributed  to  the  river  from  Coudersport  consist  of* 
the  wastes  discharged  from  an  eight-inch  sewer  from  the  condensed 
milk  factory  and  the  wastes  from  the  tannery,  a  serious  pollu- 
tion. The  borough  has  about  three  miles  of  public,  combined 
sewers  serving  about  1,500  persons  and  eighty  private  sewers  serving 
about  the  same  number,  as  well  as  some  3,000  feet  of  storm  sewers. 
The  river  above  Coudersport  is  generally  clear  and  of  good  appearance, 
but  after  passing  the  borough  there  is  a  marked  change,  due  to  the 
presence  of  sewage  and  manufactural  wastes. 


59 


Miiia,  a  small,  unincorporated  village  on  the  Allegheny  River  a 
short  distance  below  Coudersport  with  a  population  of  about  250  is 

dependent  industrially  upon  a  saw  mill  and  lumber  yard.  It  has 
a  public  water  supply  consisting  of  spigots  and  hydrants  placed  at 
intervals  along  the  curb  to  which  water  is  piped  from  a  spring. 

Roulette,  Potter  County,  is  an  unincorporated  village  with  several 
industries,  including  a  stave  and  heading  factory,  a  chemical  plant 
of  the  Gray  Chemical  Company,  a  lumber  mill,  and,  until  recently, 
a  glass  works.  The  latter  plant  was  recently  burned  and  as  a  result, 
the  population  has  been  reduced  from  1,200  to  about  800.  Some  400 
persons  are  supplied  with  water  by  the  Roulette  Water  Company 
a  corporation  deriving  its  supply  mainly  from  springs,  with  two 
reservoirs  of  40,000  and  190,000  gallons  capacity.  The  company  also 
has  an  emergency  intake  on  Lanegar  Creek  about  1.5  miles  above  its 
confluence  with  the  Allegheny.  The  timber  in  the  locality  is  be- 
coming rapidly  exhausted.  There  is  no  public  sewerage  system  and 
only  three  small  private  sewers  discharge  into  the  river.  There 
are  fifteen  cesspools  and  22L  earth  privy  vaults.  A  decree  was 
issued  to  the  Roulette  Water  Company  on  November  23rd,  1908, 
approving,  under  certain  conditions,  the  enlargement  of  its  reservoirs 
and  requiring  that  the  public  be  notified  to  boil  all  water  at  such 
times  as  it  may  be  necessary  to  use  the  Lanegar  Creek  supply. 

Port  Allegany,  an  incorporated  borough  with  a  population  of 
3,500,  is  an  industrial  town  with  three  glass  companies  (The  Alle- 
gheny Window  Glass  Company  with  250  employees,  the  Mississippi 
Window  Glass  Company  with  125  employees,  and  the  Olean  Glass 
Company  with  100  employees),  a  tannery  of  the  Elk  Tanning  Company 
employing  120  men  and  turning  out  500  skins  a  day,  and  bark  ex- 
tract works  of  the  American  Extract  Company  with  about  twenty 
employees.  Water  is  supplied  to  this  community  by  a  private  cor- 
poration and  is  taken  from  mountain  springs  and  streams,  the  water- 
shed of  which  is  uninhabited.  There  are  three  reservoirs  with  a 
combined  capacity  of  595,000  gallons  beside  an  emergency  reservoir 
with  a  capacity  of  800,000  gallons  for  fire  purposes.  Nearly  all  of  the 
inhabitants  use  this  supply.  The  borough  has  a  comprehensive,  public 
system  of  sanitary  sewers  discharging  into  the  river  through  one 
eighteen-inch  outlet  and  serving  about  nine-tenths  of  the  population. 
In  addition,  there  are  several  private  sewers  so  that  the  total  popula- 
tion probably  contributes  sewage  to  the  stream.  The  manufactural 
wastes  come  almost  entirely  from  the  tannery  and  are  quite  exten- 
sive. 


60 


On  February  8,  1912,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  issued  a  decree 
relative  to  sewerage  to  the  borough  of  Port  Allegany  approving  certain 
sewer  extensions,  subject  to  the  following  conditions  and  stipulations: 

"First:  The  borough  shall  on  or  before  July  1st,  1912,  place  on  file  in  the  office 
of  the  Department  of  Health,  in  addition  to  the  plans  already  filed,  profiles  of  its 
existing  sewers.  This  data  shall  be  sufficiently  in  detail  to  supply  the  Depart- 
ment of  Health  with  all  necessary  information  respecting  the  borough  sewer  system, 
which  information,  as  respects  grades,  is  now  lacking. 

"Second:  On  or  before  July  first,  1912,  the  borough  shall  prepare  and  submit  to 
the  Commissioner  of  Health  for  approval,  plans  for  the  collection  and  disposal  of 
all  of  the  sewage  of  Port  Allegany.  These  plans  shall  be  accompanied  by  a  report 
nud  estimates  of  cost  of  construction  of  a  sewage  disposal  plant  and  necessary 
outfall  sewer  to  reach  it. 

"Third:  This  permit  to  discharge  sewage  into  the  waters  of  the  State  shall 
cease  on  the  first  day  of  July,  1912,  but  if  on  this  date  the  terms  of  this  permit 
have  been  complied  with,  then  the  Commissioner  of  Health  shall  extend  -the  time 
in  which  sewage  may  continue  to  be  discharged  into  State  Waters,  the  intent  being 
that  the  discontinuance  of  the  discharge  of  sewage  and  industrial  wastes  into  State 
waters  shall  be  brought  about  at  as  early  a  date  as  practicable. 

"Fourth:  In  the  preparation  of  the  plans  for  the  comprehensive  sewerage 
system  and  sewage  disposal  works,  the  matter  of  taking  in  the  industrial  wastes 
and  of  treating  them  in  the  same  plant  with  the  domestic  sewage  shall  be  given 
careful  consideration.  It  will  probably  prove  advantageous  to  the  municipality  to 
adopt  this  plan. 

"The  especial  attention  of  the  local  authorities  is  directed  to  the  necessity  of  the 
overhanging  privies  being  abandoned  and  of  the  collection  and  treatment  of  the 
industrial  as  well  as  domestic  sewage  of  the  town.  A  communication  will  be 
addressed  to  each  of  the  industrial  corporations  in  Port  Allegany  advising  co- 
operation between  the  owners  and  the  municipal  authorities  in  the  designing  of 
a  comprehensive  system  of  sewerage  and  sewage  disposal  works.  The  Penn  Tanning 
Company,  operated  by  the  Elk  Tanning  Company,  The  American  Extract  Company 
and  the  Allegheny  Window  Glass  Company  will  receive  such  communications." 

Typhoid  fever  cases  have  been  reported  to  the  State  Department  of 
Health  by  the  local  authorities  of  the  boroughs  of  Port  Allegany  and 
Coudersport  as  shown  in  the  following  table: 

Typhoid  Fever  Cases  Reported   for   the   Section   of  the  Allegheny   Basin   from   the 
Source  of  the  River  to  Potato  Creek,  1906-1912,  inclusive. 


Port    Allegany, 
Coudersport,     . . . 


1906. 

1907. 

190S. 

1909. 

1910. 

1911. 

0 

5 

0 

4 

5 
4 

0 

4 

0 
1 

0 

4 

Section  2. — Potato  Creek  to  Osiuayo  Creek. 

(a)  Along  the  Allegheny  River.  After  its  junction  with  Potato 
Creek,  the  Allegheny  Kiver  flows  in  a  northerly  direction  for  about 
six  miles  where  it  makes  a  short  turn  to  the  east  and  follows  this 
direction  for  about  three  miles.  It  then  turns  to  the  north  and  enters 
New  York  State  in  the  extreme  southeastern  corner  of  Cattaraugus 
County.  Here  enters  Oswayo  Creek,  the  first  tributary  to  the  Alle 
gheny  in  New  York  State.  During  this  part  of  its  course  the  rive: 
flows  through  a  flat  valley  and  its  slope  is  less  than  two  feet  in  a  mile. 

61 


This  is  singular,  being-  loss  than  the  rate  of  fall  for  the  greater  portion 
of  the  river.  Parts  of  this  valley  are  marshy,  but  for  the  most  part 
the  flat  lands,  as  well  as  the  side  hills  od  either  side  are  fairly  well 
cultivated.  A  small  branch  which  enters  the  river  Immediately  be- 
low Potato  Creels  is  stained  black  by  wastes  from  a  chemical  plant 
at  Corryville.  The  total  population  on  the  watershed  between  Po- 
tato Creek  and  Oswayo  Creek  is  5,400,  divided  as  follows:  urban 
1,800,  rural  3,600.  Eldred,  with  a  population  of  1,800,  the  only  town 
on  this  portion  of  the  river,  has  a  tannery  which  discharges  its  wastes 
into  the  stream.  The  area  of  this  portion  of  the  watershed  is  about 
eight-two  square  miles,  giving  a  total  population  of  sixty-six  to  the 
square  mile. 

A  chemical  plant  at  Corryville,  a  tannery,  and  two  glass  plants  at 
Eldred  and  a  powder  factory  at  Bullis  Mills  are  the  most  important 
industries. 

There  are  about  fourteen  miles  of  railroads  traversing  this  section, 
consisting  of  the  Buffalo  and  Chautauqua  Divisions  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad,  which  follow  this  portion  of  the  river  practically 
throughout.  At  State  Line  Junction  a  branch  of  the  Pittsburgh, 
Shawinut  and  Northern  Railroad  barely  enters  this  territory. 

This  portion  of  the  river  is  not  used  for  power  or  navigation  pur- 
poses, nor  as  a  source  of  domestic  water  supply.  The  only  public 
domestic  supply  in  the  section  is  at  Eldred  and  is  derived  from  the 
headwaters  of  Harden  Brook.  The  Eldred  Leather  Company  at  El- 
dred derives  an  industrial  supply  from  the  river  and  reports  that  the 
water  has  a  deleterious  effect  on  their  steam  piping. 

Some  trout  and  pike  are  found,  the  conditions  being  similar  to 
those  found  in  Section  1.  The  chemical  plant  and  tannery  add  to 
the  pollution.  The  upper  waters  of  the  small  branches  are  good 
trout  streams,  trout  having  been  used  almost  exclusively  by  the  State 
Fish  Commission  in  stocking  the  streams. 

There  is  but  one  sewer  system,  that  of  Eldred,  which  contributes  the 
sewage  from  about  430  persons.  Industrial  wastes  are  contributed 
by  the  Corryville  Chemical  Company,  a  wood  alcohol  plant.  The 
Kervin  Glass  Company  and  the  Eldred  Window  Glass  Company  at 
Eldred,  both  contribute  acid  wastes.  The  Eldred  Leather  Company 
discharges  tannery  wastes  to  the  river. 

Eldred  Borough,  the  only  important  municipality,  has  an  estimated 
population  of  1,800.  Water  is  supplied  to  the  public  by  a  private 
corporation  serving  approximately  1,600  consumers,  the  remainder  of 
the  population  depending  upon  wells  and  springs.  The  daily  average 
consumption  is  approximately  150,000  gallons  of  water,  all  of  which 
passes  through  one  or  the  other  of  two  reservoirs,  capacities  of  160,- 
000  gallons  and  22.". 000  gallons.  These  reservoirs  are  located  at  the 
headwaters  of  Barden  Brook,  a  small  tributary  of  the  river.     The 


62 


greater  portion  of  the  population  is  without  sewerage  facilities. 
Bath  and  kitchen  wastes  are  discharged  indiscriminately  into  the 
street  gutters  and  privies  are  in  general  use.  There;  is  one  com- 
bined public  sewer  with  a  fifteen-inch  outlet  to  which  a  few  properties 
are  connected,  aud  it  is  estimated  that  the  sewage  of  approximately 
480  inhabitants  of  the  borough  is  discharged  into  the  river.  The  in- 
dustries comprise  two  glass  plants,  a  tannery,  cutlery  works  and  a 
wood  working  plant.  The  Eld  red  Leather  Company  handles  green 
salt  hides,  using  both  extract  and  bark,  and  lime  for  de-hairing.  The 
liquid  wastes  are  slightly  colored  by  the  spent  tanning  liquors  and 
probably  amount  to  about  10,000  gallons  a  day.  The  Kervin  Glass 
Company  has  a  twelve-inch  sewer  receiving  the  sewage  of  its  150 
employees  as  well  as  considerable  muriatic  acid.  The  Eldred  Window 
Glass  Company  has  a  six-inch  sewer  which  similarly  serves  125  men 
and  receives  muriatic  acid  wastes,  and  cooling  water. 

(b)  Potato  Creek  Drainage  Area.  Potato  Creek,  the  largest  af- 
fluent of  the  Upper  Allegheny  River  before  it  leaves  the  State  of  Penn- 
sylvania, rises  in  three  branches  in  the  southeastern  part  of  McKean 
County.  From  the  junction  of  these  streams  south  of  Norwich  village, 
Potato  Creek  flows  northward  passing  through  Smethport  borough 
and  then  turns  northeast  flowing  into  the  Allegheny  River  about  272 
miles  above  its  confluence  with  the  Monongahela. 

The  largest  tributary  of  Potato  Creek  is  Marvin  Creek  which  rises 
in  the  south  central  part  of  McKean  County  and  flows  in  a  north- 
easterly direction  a  distance  of  fifteen  miles,  entering  the  main 
stream  at  Smethport  borough. 

Potato  Creek  during  its  course  traverses  twenty-four  miles.  Dur- 
ing the  flrst  sis  miles  it  falls  at  the  rate  of  ninety  feet  to  the  mile, 
while  from  Norwich  to  its  confluence  with  the  Allegheny,  the  fall  is 
nine  feet  to  the  mile.  At  its  mouth  the  creek  is  about  thirty  feet 
wide. 

The  valley  of  this  creek  above  Smethport  is  narrow  with  steep  sides 
and  the  drainage  area  is  mainly  covered  with  underbrush.  Below 
Smethport  1he  valley  becomes  wide  and  level,  the  hills  on  the  east  be- 
ing wooded  while  those  to  the  west  are  barren.  Potato  Creek  drains  an 
area  of  240  square  miles,  practically  the  whole  southeastern  portion 
of  McKean  County.  The  basin  is  comparatively  rugged  and  precipi- 
tous and  is  mostly  covered  with  brush  and  small  forest,  but  a  small 
portion,  probably  a  quarter  of  the  immediate  valley,  is  farmed.  Under- 
lying the  basin  are  found  shales  of  the  Chemung  series  and  the  soil 
is  everwhere  of  slight  depth ;  beneath  the  soil  sandstone  and  slate  are 
found  in  quantities.  At  the  headwaters  of  Potato  Creek  in  south- 
eastern McKean  County  is  found  the  largest  section  of  virgin  timber 
left  in  Pennsylvania,  in  all  about  40,000  acres.  The  valley  through 
which  the  extreme  headwaters  of  this  stream  flow  is  not  deep  but  is 
narrow  and  the  sides  steep. 

63 


Although  well  adapted  for  water  power  installation,  the  stream  is 
not  used  for  water  power  on  account  of  the  small  population  along 
its  hanks.  This  stream  has  been  declared  a  public  highway  from  its 
mouth  to  Smethport  Borough  and  Shippen  Road.  The  total  popula- 
tion of  the  basin  is  about  7,520,  divided  as  follows:  urban  2,000, 
rural  5,520.  The  rural  population  is  approximately  twenty-four  to 
the  square  mile. 

There  is  no  important  city  within  the  watershed,  Smethport,  with 
a  population  of  2,000,  being  the  largest  place.  This  is  a  manufactur- 
ing town  picturesquely  si  mated  in  the  valley  of  Marvin  and  Potato 
Creek  and  is  surrounded  by  towering  mountains.  Potato  Creek  is 
polluted  practically  throughout  its  length,  chiefly  by  mine  wastes 
from  mining  operations  at  Clermont  and  a  chemical  works  at  Newerf. 

The  rainfall  records  at  Smethport,  near  the  middle  of  the  drainage 
area,  covering  seven  years  completely  and  a  total  period  of  twenty- 
one  years,  give  the  following:  Annual  precipitation  in  inches — maxi- 
mum 47.35  inches;  minimum  30.05  inches;  mean  for  total  period 
41.01. 

There  are  two  water  power  developments  on  the  watershed,  both 
on  Marvin  Creek  at  Smethport,  one  operating  a  grist  mill  and  the 
other  owned  by  the  Smethport  Water  Company.  The  industries  in 
this  division  include  three  glass  plants  at  Smethport  and  three  at 
Hazlehurst,  as  well  as  the  following  chemical  plants:  Newerf,  Hine- 
man  Chemical  Company;  East  Smethport,  Hineman  Chemical  Com- 
pany ;  Crosby,  Hineman  Chemical  Company ;  Marvindale,  Marvindale 
Chemical  Company;  Clermont,  Quinn  and  Sherman. 

There  are  a  number  of  railroads,  especially  in  the  western  portion 
of  this  watershed,  for  the  greater  part  originally  lumber  roads.  There 
are  about  seventy-five  miles  of  railroad  in  all,  including  a  branch  of 
the  Pittsburgh,  Shawmut  and  Northern,  following  the  creek  from  its 
mouth  to  the  headwaters  of  the  west  branch,  and  a  branch  of  the 
Pennsylvania  extending  from  the  mouth  to  Smethport  and  thence  up 
the  east  branch,  crossing  the  divide  at  Clermont.  There  are  three 
systems  supplying  the  public  with  water.  The  Hazlehurst  Water  Com- 
pany at  Hazlehurst,  the  Smethport  Water  Company  at  Smethport, 
and  the  Crosby  Gas  Company  at  Newerf,  and  an  industrial  supply  is 
derived  from  Potato  Creek  at  East  Smethport  by  the  Hineman  Chemi- 
cal Company.  It  is  estimated  that  domestic  sewage  is  contributed 
by  a  population  amounting  to  about  2,550  persons,  2,000  of  which 
represents  sewage  pollution  at  Smethport.  All  the  chemical  plants, 
five  in  number,  which  are  mentioned  above,  contribute  more  or  less 
of  offensive  and  destructive  wastes  to  the  stream. 

Newerf,  McKean  County,  is  a  village  with  a  population  of  about 
200  at  the  headwaters  of  the  east  branch  of  Potato  Creek  in  the  south- 
eastern part  of  the  county.     The  principal  industry  is  a  chemical 


64 


plant  of  the  Mineman  Chemical  Company.  The  Crosby  Gas  Company 
has  a  private  water  .supply  furnishing  the  public,  its  source  being 
springs  and  the  system  including  a  4,500  gallon  reservoir. 

Hazlehurst,  McKean  County,  is  a  village  with  about  1,000  inhabi- 
tants, situated  near  the  headwaters  of  the  west  branch  of  Potato 
Greek  in  the  south  central  part  of  the  county  about  I  luce  miles  <vist  of 
Mt.  Jewett.  Its  industries  include  three  glass  plants,  one  for  tho 
manufacture  of  window  glass,  one  bottle  glass  works,  and  one  machine 
blown  glass  works.  The  Hazlehurst  Water  Company  supplies  (lie 
public  and  two  of  the  glass  plants  with  water  derived  from  springs 
and  from  the  headwaters  of  Marvin  Creek.  Two  reservoirs  and  a 
storage  tank  afford  storage  facilities  for  178,000  gallons  of  water  and 
the  industrial  consumption  at  the  window  glass  works  is  estimated 
to  be  15,000  gallons  and  at  the  bottle  glass  works  7,500  gallons  a  day. 
The  machine  blown  glass  works  has  a  private  industrial  supply  de- 
rived from  Head  Run. 

Smethport,  the  county  seat  of  McKean  County,  is  a  borough  with 
about  2,000  population  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county  at  the 
junction  of  Marvin  and  Potato  Creek;  extending  principally  along 
tne  former.  The  important  industries  comprise  the  Birney-Bond  Glass 
Company,  the  Smethport  Cut  Glass  Company,  the  Smethport  Glass 
Company,  and  several  minor  plants  including  a  creamery,  novelty 
works,  planing  mill  and  flour  mill.  About  a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  the 
east,  at  East  Smethport,  is  the  Hineman  Chemical  plant.  Water  is 
supplied  to  the  public  by  the  Smethport  Water  Company,  which  de 
rives  its  supply  from  Blacksmith  Run  and  one  of  its  tributaries,  Shel- 
don Brook,  and  from  two  wells  near  Blacksmith  Run.  The  watersheds 
are  practically  uninhabited,  and  the  supply  is  considered  good,  and  is 
used  by  about  nine-tenths  of  the  population.  There  are  a  fewT  wells 
in  use,  though  springs  are  used  to  some  extent.  The  industrial  plants 
generally  use  the  public  supply,  but  the  Hineman  Chemical  Company 
at  East  Smethport  uses  Potato  Creek  water  for  condensing  purposes. 
The  borough  has  a  combined  sewer  system  serving  practically  the 
entire  town  comprising  about  four  miles  and  a  quarter  of  sewer  dis- 
charging through  two  outlets  into  Potato  Creek.  There  are  also  some 
seventy  private  sewers  and  drains  discharging  into  the  highways  or 
streams  within  the  borough.  Practically  the  entire  population,  there 
fore,  pollutes  the  stream.  The  Hineman  Chemical  Company  dis- 
charges the  characteristic  wastes  from  plants  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  wood  alcohol  and  acetate  of  lime. 

In  a  permit  issued  to  Smethport  by  the  Commissioner  of  Health. 
June  30th,  1909,  the  following  discussion  was  offered  relative  to  the 
discharge  of  sewage  into  the  streams  in  the  district: 


65 


"Potato  Creek  is  an  important  tributary  of  the  Allegheny  River.  It  is  free 
from  mine  drainage  pollution  and  before  the  building  of  Uie  chemical  plants 
along  its  banks  it  was  one  of  the  purest  mountain  streams.  The  waters  of  this  stream 
are  not  used  directly1  as  a  source  of  drinking  supply  for  any  towns.  At  the  borough 
of  Warren,  tbe  county  seat  of  \\  alien  County,  Pennsylvania,  the  Allegheny  ttiver 
is  the  source  of  the  entire  supplj  for  the  town  during  the  dry  months  in  the  year, 
and  it  is  used  to  some  extent  ev<  rj  month  in  the  year. 

"In  New  York  .State,  at  Salamanca  on  the  Allegheny  River  about  thirty-seven 
miles  below  the  confluence  of  Potato  Creek  with  the  Allegheny,  municipal  sewage 
is  discharged  into  the  river.  Recently  the  authorities  of  that  place  were  required 
by  the  State  Department  of  Health  of  New  York  to  re-design  the  sewerage  system 
and  to  build  extensions  thereto  in  contemplation  of  the  purification  of  the  sewage. 
Other  municipalities  along  the  Allegheny  River  are  beiug  required  by  the  New 
York  Stale  authorities  to  prepare  to  dispose  of  their  sewage  otherwise  than  by 
discharging  it  into  the  stream.  This  policy  is  a  co-operative  one  adopted  by  New 
York  and  Pennsylvania  to  bring  about  the  preservation  of  the  purity  of  public- 
waters  for  the  protection  of  the  public  health. 

"In  Pennsylvania,  in  McKean  County,  the  city  of  Bradford  has  been  given  permis- 
sion to  extend  its  sewer  system  and  to  discharge  the  sewage  therefrom  into  a  tribu- 
tary of  the  Allegheny  River  until  .May  lirst,  nineteen  hundred  and  eleven. 

"The  borough  of  Kane,  McKean  County,  has  been  given  permission  to  extend 
its  sewer  system  and  to  discharge  sewage  into  a  tributary  of  the  Allegheny  River 
uutil  May  lirst,  nineteen  hundred  and  eleven,  and  other  places  iu  the  Allegheny 
Basin  have  been  given  similar  privileges  under  certain  conditions  which  contemplate 
the   ultimate   treatment    of   the   sewage. 

"The  assessed  valuation  of  property  in  Smethport  is  reported  to  be  four  hundred  and 
eighty  thousand  dollars  in  round  numbers.  The  bonded  indebtedness  is  thirty-four 
thousand.  If  these  figures  be  correct,  the  constitutional  limit  of  indebtedness  of 
the  borough  has  been  reached. 

"It  would  appear  to  be  in  the  interest  of  public  health  to  permit  the  sewers  to 
be  extended  as  proposed,  but  the  sewage  should  not  indefinitely  be  discharged  into 
the  stream. 

"The  town  should  devise  ways  and  means  of  treating  the  sewage.  Roof  and 
storm  water  should  be  excluded  from  the  sewers  in  so  far  as  it  is  practicable  now. 
It  is  not  feasible  to  purify  large  quantities  of  sewage  and  storm  water,  therefore 
the  storm  water  should  be  excluded  from  the  sewers  or  reduced  to  a  minimum  at 
the  time  when  the  sewage  must  be  treated. 

"It  docs  not  necessarily  follow  that  Siuethport  cannot  treat  its  sewage  because  its 
limit  of  indebtedness  has  been  reached.  The  local  authorities  should  take  up  this 
question  and  thoroughly  discuss  it  and  arrive  at  conclusions  and  prepare  plans  and 
submit  them  to  the  State  Department  of  Health  for  approval. 

"Because  the  waters  in  this  region  are  not  polluted  with  sewage  is  the  best  reason 
why  they  should  be  kept  free  of  pollution.  To  adopt  a  plan  and  carry  it  out  pru- 
dently uow  is  to  assure  efficiency  and  economy  to  the  taxpayers,  and  the  smaller 
the  community,  the  more  careful  should  it  be  in  its  expenditures.  The  State 
Department  of  Health  will  be  glad  to  advise  and  co-operate  with  the  local  authori- 
ties in  the  solution  of  the  problem." 

The  village  of  Norwich,  in  Norwich  Township,  in  June,  1011,  was 
a  settlement  of  about  forty  frame  dwellings,  mostly  owned  by  the 
Goodyear  Lumber  Company.  This  company  owns  more  than  a  thou- 
sand acres  of  virgin  forest  land  largely  within  the  drainage  area  of 
Potato  Creek.  It  owns  the  town  site  of  Norwich  Post  Office,  other- 
wise the  village  of  Norwich,  and  is  developing  it  in  connection  with 
lumbering  operations.  An  ultimate  population  of  about  1,200  persons 
is  looked  for.  Water  from  springs  on  the  hillsides  is  piped  into  the 
houses.  The  Commissioner  of  Health,  on  August  17th,  1911,  refused 
to  permit  the  said  company  to  build  a  sewer  system  and  discharge 
the  sewage  into  the  creek.  The  company  therefore  prepared  plans  for 
sewerage  and  sewage  disposal  works,  the  latter  to  consist  of  septic 
tanks  and  sand  filter  beds.  The  plans  were  approved  August  18th, 
1011,  and  at  the  close  of  the  year  1012  the  sewers  and  disposal  works 
were  built  and  partly  in  operation. 


<;<; 


At  Belle  Camp,  in  Foster  Township,  McKean  County,  in  the  Potato 
Creek  drainage  area  there  is  a  small  institution,  operated  by  the 
Northwestern  Tuberculosis  League,  whose  sewage  is  connected  to  and 
treated  in  an  institutional  plant. 

(c)  Typhoid  Fever.  The  cases  of  typhoid  fever  reported  by  the 
local  health  authorities  of  Eldred  and  Smethport  Boroughs  to  the 
State  Department  of  Health  from  190G  to  1912,  inclusive,  are  given  in 
the  following  table: 

Typhoid  Fever  Cases  Reported  for  the  Section  of  the  Allegheny  Basin  from  Potato 
Creek   to   Oswayo   Creek,    1906-1912,    inclusive. 


Eldred,      .. 
Smothport, 


l'J06. 

1907. 

1908. 

1909. 
1 

1910. 

- 
1911. 

0 
0 

0 
1 

0 
4 

11 
0 

17  1 
1 

Section  3. — Oswayo   Creek   to  Tunungawant   Greek. 

(a)  Along  Allegheny  River.  Below  the  junction  of  Oswayo  Creek 
the  Allegheny  River  flows  in  a  general  westerly  direction,  with  three 
long  gentle  bends,  through  the  southeastern  part  •  of  Cattaraugus 
County,  New  York,  where  it  is  joined  by  Tunungawant  Creek  coming 
from  the  south.  During  the  first  part  of  its  course  in  this  section 
the  river  passes  through  a  wide  valley  with  high  hills  on  either  side. 
The  side  slopes  are  well  farmed  while  the  hill-tops  are  bleak  and 
barren,  the  result  of  forest  fires  following  tan  bark  operations.  From 
Olean  to  the  junction  of  the  Tunungawant  the  valley  of  the  stream  is 
comparatively  flat  and  about  two  miles  wide,  while  the  river  itself 
averages  300  feet  in  width  and  has  a  fine,  sandy,  gravel  bottom. 
Part  of  the  flats  to  the  south  of  the  river  are  farmed,  but  there  is 
considerable  waste  land  found  here,  while  the  slopes  north  of  the 
river  are  covered  with  a  scrub  growth  of  timber.  South  of  tbe  river 
near  Allegany,  there  are  numerous  oil  wells  but  of  late  years  this 
industry  has  fallen  off  to  a  considerable  extent.  In  this  section  of  tbe 
river  dams  and  cribs  are  found  in  the  channel,  the  remains  of  ex- 
tensive lumber  operations. 

The  total  population  of  this  portion  of  the  Allegheny  River  Basin 
is  36,420  of  which  22,020  are  urban  and  14.400  rural.  Olean.  New 
York,  with  a  population  of  16,920,  is  the  largest  town,  and  is  situated 
on  the  river  at  a  point  55  miles  from  its  source.  There  are  a  number  of 
tanneries  in  its  immediate  vicinity,  this  being  one  of  the  chief  in- 
dustries. 


67 


The  largest  tributary  streams  to  the  river  within  this  section, 
taken  in  order  down  stream,  are  Dodges  ("reck,  Haskell  ('reek,  Glean 
Creek  and  six  Mile  ('reek.  All  enter  from  the  north,  the  first  two 
traversing  fertile  valleys  with  no  villages  and  gradual  slopes.  Olean 
Creek,  the  largest  of  these,  rises  about  sixty  miles  north  of  Olean  and 
Hows  in  a  general  southerly  direction  entering  the  river  at  Olean. 
It  is  made  up  at  Hinsdale  of  two  tributaries.  Oil  Creek  which  rises 
in  a  small  lake  at  an  elevation  of  1,5G0  feet,  and  Isehua  Creek,  the 
main  branch  from  the  north.  The  mountains  rise  abruptly  from  the 
valley  bottoms  and  small  torrential  tributaries  enter  these  streams 
from  their  steep  slopes.  The  flow  of  Olean  Creek  and  consequently  of 
the  river  is  somewhat  modified  by  the  Cuba  Reservoir,  so-called. 
The  storage  is  commonly  turned  into  the  Genesee  River  through  the 
abandoned  summit  level  of  the  Genesee  Valley  Canal,  but  may  be 
diverted  into  Olean  Creek  through  the  guard  lock  at  the  head  of  the 
canal.  It  is  not  likely  that  the  flow  from  this  source  materially  affects 
the  low  water  flow  of  the  Allegheny  River.  The  only  power  develop- 
ment noted  is  at  Westons,  New  York,  where  a  dam  on  the  river  gives 
a  fall  of  from  eight  to  ten  feet,  utilized  by  a  large  saw  mill. 

Oil  production  has  a  marked  effect  on  the  condition  of  the  water  in 
the  streams  receiving  wastes  from  these  operations.  Olean  has  become 
a  centre  for  oil  distribution,  at  one  time  300  tanks  with  a  capacity  of 
9.000,000  gallons  being  in  use.  Beginning  at  this  point  there  are 
two  six-inch  pipe  lines  extending  to  the  seaboard  through  which 
35,000  barrels  of  oil  a  day  can  be  delivered. 

A  5,000  barrel  oil  refinery  at  Olean,  a  tannery  at  White  House, 
five  tanneries  at  Olean  and  one  at  Allegany  as  well  as  a  chemical 
plant  at  South  Vandalia  contribute  manufactural  wastes  which  in 
various  ways  affect  the  stream.  The  wastes  from  the  tanneries  alone 
amount  to  probably  ten  cubic  feet  a  second.  The  tannery  of  Adam 
Kinley  &  Sons  on  Two  Mile  Creek  at  Olean  has  installed  settling 
tanks  resulting  in  a  radical  improvement  of  the  character  of  that 
small  tributary.  Domestic  sewage  is  contributed  by  about  15,000 
persons,  3,000  of  whom  are  on  Qlean  Creek. 

Water  supplies  are  in  no  case  derived  directly  from  the  river,  moun- 
tain streams,  springs  and  wells  being  the  chief  sources.  Nearly  a 
hundred  miles  of  railroad  traverse  this  territory,  including  the  Pitts- 
burgh. Shawmut  and  Northern,  Erie,  and  Buffalo  Division  of  the 
Pennsylvania,  and  a  portion  of  the  Buffalo,  Rochester  and  Pittsburgh 
Railroads,  Olean  being  an  extensive  railroad  centre.  In  addition 
to  the  steam  roads  there  are  many  miles  of  inter-urban  electric  lines 
connecting  Olean  with  Salamanca  and  Little  Valley  in  New  York 
State.  ;Mid  Bradford  and  Shingle  House  in  Pennsylvania. 

Portville,  Cattaraugus  County,  New  York,  is  an  incorporated  village 
with  a  population  of  about  770,  situated  on  the  Allegheny  River  a 
mile  below  the  month  of  Oswayo  Creek.    There  are  a  few  private  sew- 

68 


ers  and  cesspools  in  the  village  and  it  is  estimated  that  about  420 
persons  contribute  sewage  to  the  river.  There  is  a  tannery  at  this 
point  discharging  its  wastes  into  the  river. 

Cuba,  Allegany  County,  New  York,  is  an  incorporated  village  with  a 
population  of  about  1,520  on  Oil  Creek  which  is  a  tributary  of  Olean 
Creek  which  latter  enters  the  Allegheny  River  at  Olean.  The  popula- 
tion contributing  sewage  to  the  stream  is  estimated  to  be  840.  Plans 
for  a  separate  sewerage  system  providing  for  septic  treatment  were 
approved  by  the  New  York  Department  of  Health  on  April  26, 
1904. 

Franklinville,  Cattaraugus  County,  New  York,  is  an  incorporated 
village  with  a  population  of  about  1,480,  and  has  an  estimated  pollut- 
ing population  of  810.     The  village  has  no  sewerage  system. 

Olean  City,  Cattaraugus  County,  New  Yrork,  has  a  population  of 
about  10,920,  including  that  part  of  the  city  formerly  known  as  North 
Olean.  The  city  is  provided  with  combined  sewers,  but  the  New 
York  State  Department  of  Health  has  required  that  future  extensions 
to  the  sewer  system  shall  be  on  a  separate  plan  and  so  constructed 
as  to  provide  for  the  future  treatment  of  the  sanitary  sewage.  The 
former  village  of  North  Olean  has  a  comprehensive  separate  sewer 
system  including  two  disposal  plants  serving  in  all  a  population  of 
about  1,700  persons.  The  disposal  plants  consist  of  septic  tanks  and 
sprinkling  filters,  one  discharging  the  effluent  from  about  200  persons 
into  Two  Mile  Creek  and  the  other  serving  about  1,500  persons  and 
discharging  into  Olean  Creek.  The  population  contributing  sewTage 
to  the  Allegheny  River  from  Olean  is  estimated  at  11,590.  The  water 
supply  of  Olean  is  derived  from  driven  wells  along  the  bank  of  the 
river.  Five  tanneries  in  the  city  or  vicinity  discharge  characteristic 
wastes  into  the  stream. 

Allegany,  Cattaraugus  County,  New  York,  lies  about  four  miles  be- 
lowr  Olean  on  the  Allegheny  River.  It  is  an  incorporated  village  with  a 
population  of  1,330.  The  New  Yrork  Department  of  Health  has  ap- 
proved plans  for  a  comprehensive  sewerage  system  providing  for 
ultimate  septic  tank  treatment  of  the  sewage. 

(~b)  Oswayo  Creek  Drainage  Area.  Oswayo  Creek  rises  in  two 
branches  in  the  northwestern  corner  of  Potter  County,  heading  close 
to  the  sources  of  the  Genesee  and  Allegheny  Rivers.  The  north  branch 
rises  in  the  Oswayo  Range  and  flows  through  a  deep  canyon  its  entire 
length.  The  south  branch  rises  in  the  rolling  lowlands  near  East 
Hebron  but  soon  enters  and  cuts  across  the  Oswayo  Range,  forming 
a  confluence  with  the  north  branch  at  Coneville.  The  stream  from  this 
point  takes  a  general  northwesterly  direction  crossing  the  eastern 
boundary  of  McKean  County  two  miles  south  of  the  State  line  and 
leaving  McKean  County  six  miles  west  of  its  northeast  corner.  Here 
it  enters  New  York  State  and  shortly  afterwards  joins  the  Allegheny 
River  in  the  extreme  southeastern  corner  of  Cattaraugus  County, 

69 


258  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  Allegheny  River,  The  greater  part 
of  ili is  basin  is  traversed  from  side  to  side  in  a  northeast  southwest 
direction  by  si\  ranges  of  broad  table-lands. 

The  natural  How  of  the  headwaters  of  Oswayo  Creek  is  rapid  but 
below  the  junction  of  the  two  branches  (lie  valley  widens,  becoming 
broad,  fiat  and  swampy,  with  sharp  bluffs  on  cither  side  and  here 
the  flow  is  extremely  sluggish.  The  area  drained  by  the  Oswayo 
Creek  comprises  218  square  miles,  of  which  aboul  seventy-nine  are  in 
New  York  State.  This  creek  is  the  largest  tributary  of  the  Allegheny 
in  1his  section.  During  its  course  it  traverses  twenty-five  miles  al- 
most entirely  in  Potter  County.  The  total  population  of  the  basin 
is  8,240,  divided  as  follows: 

New  York — Urban,  1,750;  rural,  2,660.  Pennsylvania — Urban, 
1,850;  rural,  .2,080. 

The  rural  population  is  approximately  twenty-one  to  the  square 
mile. 

Shingle  House  in  Potter  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  Bolivar  in  Alle- 
gany County,  New  York,  are  the  only  towns  on  the  watershed  having 
a  population  of  over  1.000. 

This  stream  has  been  declared  a  public  highway  from  the  New 
l'ork  State  line  to  the  junction  of  its  forks,  a  distance  of  twenty 
miles.  The  watershed  of  the  Oswayo  is  probably  the  wildest  and 
least  developed  section  of  the  Allegheny  Basin.  There  is  a  sewerage 
system  at  Shingle  House.  The  ground  in  the  basin  is  not  extremely 
fertile  and  these  facts  taken  together  with  the  sparse  population 
living  on  the  shed  clearly  indicate  the  favorable  character  of  the 
water. 

The  rainfall  records  at  Shingle  House  cover  a  total  period  of  eight 
years  for  which  four  years'  records  are  complete.  The  annual  pre- 
cipitation in  inches  is:  maximum  4S.20,  minimum  37.35,  mean  for  total 
period  38.63. 

There  is  a  small  water  power  development  at  Shingle  House  o*n 
Oswayo  Creek  operating  a  grist  mill. 

Farming  is  the  principal  occupation  on  this  watershed,  although 
the  presence  of  gas  in  large  quantities,  now  gradually  diminishing, 
has  until  recently  forced  agriculture  to  the  background. 

The  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  "Railroad  follows  Oswayo  Creek 
practically  throughout  its  entire  length  and  a  branch  of  the  Pitts- 
burgh. Shawmut  &  Northern  extends  up  Little  Genesee  Creek,  mak- 
ing a  total  of  about  thirty-five  miles  of  railroad. 

Oswayo  lias  a  spring  water  supply  furnished  to  (lie  public  by  the 
Oswayo  Water  Company  and  at  Shingle  House  the  public  is  supplied 
with  driven  well  water  and  spring  wale''  by  the  Palmer  Window  Class 
Company  and  the  Shingle  House  Water  Company.  It  is  estimated 
that  about  4.310  persons  in   New  York  State  and  3.030  persons  in 


70 


Pennsylvania  or  8,240  in  all  contribute  sewage  to  the  creek.  So  far 
as  known,  the  only  industrial  wastes  of  importance  are  those  dis- 
charged from  the  chemical  plant  near  Oswayo. 

Kichburg,  Allegany  County,  New  York,  is  an  incorporated  village 
near  the  headwaters  of  Little  Genesee  Creek,  a  tributary  of  Oswayo 
Creek,  entering  the  latter  stream  near  the  State  line.  The  popula- 
tion is  about  380  and  while  the  village  has  no  sewer  system,  it  is  esti- 
mated that  probably  200  persons  contribute  sewage  to  the  stream. 

Bolivar,  Allegany  County,  New  York,  is  an  incorporated  village 
with  a  population  of  about  1,370.  A  separate  sewerage  system  and 
disposal  plant  have  been  designed  and  a  permit  for  the  construction 
was  issued  by  the  New  York  Department  of  Health  on  February  7th, 
1907.  The  purification  plant  includes  septic  tanks  and  contact  beds. 
The  daily  estimated  flow  of  sewage  from  the  village  is  200,000  gallons. 
A  private  corporation  supplies  water  to  the  public,  the  daily  consump- 
tion being  about  350,000  gallons. 

Oswayo,  Potter  County,  is  a  small  rural  community  near  the  head- 
waters of  Oswayo  Creek.  Its  population  of  450  persons  is  engaged 
chiefly  in  farming,  but  there  is  also  at  this  point  a  grist  mill  and  a 
heading  mill.  A  chemical  plant  nearby  discharges  characteristic 
wastes  into  the  creek.  The  public  is  supplied  with  water  by  the  Os- 
wayo Water  Company,  which  has  two  reservoirs  of  8,000  and  5,000 
gallons  respectively,  both  fed  by  springs.  Only  a  small  portion  of  the 
population,  perhaps  fifty  persons,  contribute  sewage  pollution  to  the 
stream. 

Shingle  House  borough,  Potter  County,  with  a  population  of  about 
1,400  is  situated  near  the  northwest  corner  of  Potter  County  at  the 
junction  of  the  Honeoye  and  Oswayo  Creeks  and  about  nine  miles 
above  the  mouth  of  the  latter  stream.  Its  principal  industries  are 
the  Elk  Flint  Bottle  Works,  employing  from  seventy-five  to  a  hundred 
men,  the  Sharon  Manufacturing  Company's  heading  mill  with  about 
fifteen  employees,  and  a  grist  mill  with  about  five  employees.  Until 
recently  the  Palmer  Window  Glass  Company  gave  employment  to 
several  hundred  men,  but  the  closing  down  of  the  plant  has  reduced 
the  population  of  the  borough  from  1,600  to  its  present  number, 
about  1,400.  The  borough  owns  its  own  system  of  water  pipes,  but 
water  is  furnished  and  the  system  operated  by  the  Palmer  Window 
Glass  Company,  deriving  its  supply  from  three  driven  wells  on  the 
company's  ground.  The  Shingle  House  Water  Company,  a  private 
concern,  has  been  organized  and  will  furnish  water  and  operate  the 
borough's  system.  The  supply  will  be  derived  from  springs  on  the 
mountain  side  augmented  by  a  driven  well  within  the  borough  and 
delivered  to  about  600  consumers,  while  the  Palmer  Window  Glass 
Company  will  continue  to  serve  about  200  persons  for  a  time  at  least. 
The  borough  has  a  combined  sewerage  system  serving  a  large  popula- 
tion, although  privies  are  quite  generally  used. 

71 


(c)  Typhoid  Fever.  From  L906  to  L912,  inclusive,  the  local  authori- 
ties of  the  boroughs  of  Oswayo  and  Shingle  House  have  reported  to  the 
State  Department  of  Health  one  case  (A'  typhoid  fever  from  Oswayo 
and  seven  cases  of  typhoid  fever  from  Shingle  House.  These  are  the 
only  towns  of  importance  in  Pennsylvania  in  this  section  of  the  Alle- 
gheny Basin.  • 


Section  J/. — Tii ii an </a irant  Creek   to  New   York-Pennsylvania  State 

Line. 

(a)  Along  Allegheny  Nicer.  After  its  junction  with  Tunungawant 
Creek  the  Allegheny  River  flows  in  a  general  northwesterly  direction 
to  Salamanaca,  New  York,  where,  in  a  long  bend,  it  turns  southwest 
and  crosses  the  New  York-Pennsylvania  State  Line,  91.3  miles  from  its 
source  and  213.7  miles  above  its  mouth.  At  the  mouth  of  the  Tunun- 
gawant Creek  the  valley  is  about  two  miles  wide  and  the  river  about 
200  feet  wide.  This  width  is  nearly  uniform  to  the  State  line  and 
the  fall  during  this  distance  averages  3.7  feet  to  the  mile.  The 
valley  is  flat  and  marshy  with  high  hills  covered  with  a  second  growth 
on  either  side.  Near  Salamanca  the  condition  remains  the  same,  but 
from  Red  House  to  the  State  line  part  of  the  land  is  farmed  though 
most  of  it  is  covered  with  remains  of  early  tan  bark  operations. 
Great  Valley  Creek,  the  largest  tributary  of  this  section  of  the  river, 
drains  the  south  central  part  of  Cattaraugus  County,  New  York. 
It  rises  in  an  extensive  hemlock  swamp  and  flows  for  its  entire  length 
through  a  broad,  flat,  well  farmed  valley  with  low,  rolling,  partly 
wooded  hills  on  either  side.  The  total  population  of  this  division  of 
the  watershed  is  17,S70,  divided  as  follows:  urban,  9,830;  rural, 
8,040.  Salamanca,  with  a  population  of  7,000,  situated  on  the  river  in 
the  south  central  part  of  Cattaraugus  County,  New  York,  is  the  largest 
town  in  this  section  and  contains  the  only  tannery  in  the  territory. 

At  Salamanca  the  elevation  of  the  river  is  1,381  and  at  Corydon, 
twenty-three  miles  down  stream,  where  the  river  re-enters  Pennsyl- 
vania, the  elevation  is  1,289,  a  drop  of  ninety-two  feet  or  four  feet 
to  the  mile. 

At  Salamanca,  Great  Valley  Creek  enters  from  the  north,  draining 
an  area  of  130  square  miles  and  extends  with  its  West  Branch  al- 
most to  the  headwaters  of  Ischua  Creek.  Little  Valley  Creek,  enter- 
ing from  the  north  at  West  Salamanca,  drains  an  area  of  about  fifty 
square  miles  and  has  a  minimum  flow  of  0.3  cubic  feet  a  second. 
There  are  a  number  of  other  small  creeks  which  enter  from  both  sides, 
all  more  or  less  torrential  and  of  minor  importance.     The  river  is 


7*? 


not  used  for  navigation,  although  it  is  a  matter  of  record  that  many 
years  ago  a  steamer  ascended  the  river  from  Pittsburgh  to  Olean. 
This  appears  to  have  been  a  single  performance,  probably  never 
accomplished  again.  There  is  do  water  power  development  along  lliis 
section  in  use  at  the  present  time,  a  small  dam  at  Oorydon  having 
been  washed  out  some  years  ago. 

There  is  an  Indian  Reservation  along  the  Allegheny  River  for  a 
distance  of  forty  miles  north  of  the  State  line  and  extending  for 
one-half  mile  on  each  side,  thus  including  the  village  of  Salamanca'. 
The  land  can  only  be  leased  from  the  Indians  and  for  this  reason  de- 
velopment is  not  active. 

This  territory  is  well  supplied  with  transportation  facilities,  having 
about  ninety  miles  of  railroads,  including  portions  of  the  EIrie,  the 
Buffalo,  Rochester  and  Pittsburgh,  and  the  Buffalo  Division  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad.  In  addition  to  the  steam  roads  an  inter- 
urban  trolley  line  extends  from  Little  Valley  to  Salamanca  and  thence 
to  Olean. 

The  New  York  State  Health  Department  report  for  1908  states 
that  "Except  for  the  oil  on  the  surface  of  the  water,  the  Allegheny 
should  be  clear  and  wholesome  water,  supplied  as  it  is  from  springs 
of  the  mountains,  and  comparatively  unpolluted  by  human  wastes. 
Actually,  it  is,  under  its  normal  conditions,  very  dark  colored  and 
foul  smelling,  with  decaying  organic  matter  in  suspension  constantly 
in  evidence.  The  inspector  reports  that  in  many  of  the  eddies,  and 
in  the  still  water  behind  islands,  and  generally  in  quiet  reaches  of  the 
river,  conditions  are  found  revolting  in  the  extreme  to  the  senses  both 
of  sight  and  smell.  He  reports  that  the  presence  of  raw  sewage  from 
Olean  was  noticed  at  least  ten  miles  down  stream,  and  that  similar 
conditions  exist  at  Salamanca.  There  seems  to  be  a  lack  of  oxygen  in 
the  water,  for  the  lack  of  which  the  organic  matter  is  not  absorbed 
and  oxidized.  The  discoloration  may  be  due  in  part  to  the  vegetable 
color  which  it  receives  in  passing  through  the  swamps  and  mountain 
timber,  but  the  largest  part  is  contributed  in  the  form  of  tannery 
wastes.'' 

The  tanneries  in  this  division,  two  in  number,  are  located  at  Sala- 
manca and  at  Red  House.  There  is  a  chemical  plant  on  Red  House 
Creek,  wastes  from  which  are  characteristic  and  considerable.  The 
combined  liquid  waste  from  the  tanneries  is  estimated  to  be  three 
cubic  feet  a  second.  A  condensed  milk  plant  at  Ellicottville  is  also 
a  source  of  pollution  but  of  minor  importance.  No  public  water  sup- 
plies are  derived  from  the  stream. 

Ellicottville,  Cattaraugus  County,  Newr  York,  is  an  incorporated 
village,  with  a  population  of  1,040.  It  has  a  few  private  sewers  dis- 
charging into  Great  Valley  Creek. 


73 


East  Salamanca,  Cattaraugus  County,  New  York,  is  an  unincorpor- 
ated village  provided  with  a  comprehensive  combined  sewer  system  for 
which  plans  were  approved  by  the  New  York  Department  of  Health 
in  11)08.  The  permit  requires  that  future  extensions  shall  be  made 
on  the  separate  plan  and  that  the  treatment  of  the  sewage  shall  be  ac- 
complished at  such  time  as  the  village  of  Salamanca  shall  be  required 
to  treat  its  sewage. 

Salamanca,  Cattaraugus  County,  New  York,  is  an  incorporated  vil- 
lage, with  a  population  of  about  7.000,  situated  on  both  banks  of  the 
Allegheny  River,  about  six  miles  below  the  mouth  of  Tunungawanl 
Creek.  The  river  here  receives  the  manufacturing  wastes  from  a 
tannery  and  (lie  sewage  of  about  5,000  persons.  The  New  York  De- 
partment of  Health,  on  March  20th,  1008,  approved  plans  for  a  compre- 
hensive sewerage  system  and  issued  a  permit  allowing  the  discharge 
of  sewage  from  this  system  into  the  Allegheny  River,  until  such 
time  as  the  State  Commissioner  of  Health  shall  require  the  con- 
struction of  disposal  works. 

Little  Valley,  Cattaraugus  County,  New  York,  is  an  incorporated 
village,  with  a  population  of  about  1,230,  situated  near  the  headwaters 
of  Little  Valley  ('reek,  a  small  stream  entering  the  river  at  West  Sala- 
manca. The  village  has  no  sewers.  It  is  estimated  that  680  persons 
pollute  the  creek  with  sewage. 

West  Salamanca,  Cattaraugus  County,  New  York,  is  an  incorpor- 
ated village,  with  a  population  of  about  560,  situated  at  the  mouth  of 
Little  Valley  Creek.  No  plans  for  sewerage  and  disposal  works  have 
been  submitted  to  the  New  York  Department  of  Health.  It  is  esti- 
mated that  310  persons  discharge  sewage  into  the  stream. 

(b )  Tunungawant  Creek  Drainage  Basin.  The  Tunungawant  Creek 
is  formed  by  the  junction  of  its  East  and  West  Branches  at  Bradford, 
in  the  northern  part  of  McKean  County,  at  a  point  two  miles  and 
a  half  south  of  the  boundary  line  between  the  States  of  New  York  and 
Pennsylvania.  Neither  one  of  these  tributaries  is  an  important 
stream.  The  East  Branch  rises  in  the  mountain  twelve  miles  south 
of  Bradford  and  flows  in  a  northerly  direction.  The  West  Branch  has 
its  source  seven  miles  southwest  of  the  city.  Both  of  these  branches 
flow  through  narrow  valleys  with  steep  sides,  the  drainage  area  having 
been  denuded  of  forest  is  now  covered  with  second  growth. 

From  Bradford,  the  Tunungawant  Creek  flows  northeast  for  one 
mile  and  then  north  across  the  State  line  into  New  York  State,  join- 
ing the  Allegheny  at  South  Carrollton,  New  York,  eleven  and  a  half 
miles  below  Bradford,  and  211  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  Allegheny 
River. 


74 


The  dividing  ridges  surrounding  the  drainage  areas  are  almost 
level.  Below  Bradford  the  ground  along  the  Tunungawanl  Creek  is 
from  live  to  ten  feet  above  the  ordinary  water  level  of  the  stream 
and  is  subject  to  inundation.  Along  the  eastern  bank  of  the  creek 
the  surface  rises  rapidly  for  one  mile  below  the  junction  where  it 
reaches  an  elevation  of  350  feet  above  the  city,  while  on  the  north- 
western bank  of  the  main  stream  the  surface  ascends  gradually  to 
an  elevation  of  250  feet  above  the  city. 

The  valley  at  the  mouth  is  about  half  a  mile  across,  while  the 
creek  itself  is  about  thirty  feet  wide.  On  the  hilltops  throughout 
the  length  of  the  creek,  second  growth  timber  is  found  to  a  consider- 
able extent,  while  on  the  slopes  there  are  occasional  farms. 

Tunungawant  Creek  drains  an  area  of  164  square  miles  of  which 
about  twenty-four  are  in  New  York  State.  The  average  fall  of  the 
headwaters  for  the  first  six  miles  is  at  a  rate  of  sixty-four  feet  to  the 
mile  and  from  then  on  to  the  State  line  the  fall  is  sixteen  feet  a 
mile  as  the  valley  widens  and  is  more  gradual  in  slope. 

This  basin  was  the  scene  of  great  activity  and  became  .widely 
known  and  thoroughly  prospected  during  the  Bradford  oil  excitement. 
The  oil  field  is  about  thirty  miles  long  and  from  six  to  fifteen  miles 
wide — Bradford  is  in  the  northeastern  corner  of  the  field.  The  entire 
section  is  honey-combed  with  oil  and  gas  wells,  nearly  all  of  which  are 
small  producers  at  the  present  time. 

The  total  population  of  the  basin  is  24,410,  divided  as  follows: 

New  York — Urban,  720 ;  rural,  510.  Pennsylvania — Urban,  17,500 ; 
rural,  5,680.  The  rural  population  is  approximately  thirty-seven  to 
the  square  mile. 

The  only  tannery  on  the  shed  is  situated  at  Limestone,  New  York, 
one  mile  north  of  the  State  line.  Bradford  City,  with  a  population  of 
17,500,  is  the  only  municipality  in  the  basin  and  is  the  oil  centre  of 
this  district.  It  is  an  enterprising  and  rapidly  growing  community, 
exceedingly  irregular  in  shape,  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  develop- 
ment of  the  town  has  been  along  the  streams  in  the  valleys  and  on 
the  adjacent  hillsides. 

No  rainfall  records  are  available  for  points  within  the  Tununga- 
want watershed.  The  records  at  Smethport,  near  by,  .may  be  consid- 
ered as  approximately  correct  for  this  area  as  well.  These  are 
complete  for  seven  years  and  cover  a  total  of  twenty-one  years,  giving 
an  annual  precipitation  in  inches  of,  maximum.  47.35;  minimum, 
30.65;  and  mean  for  total  period,  41.61. 

Trout  have  been  used  exclusively  by  the  State  Fish  Commission 
in  stocking  the  streams  on  the  Tunungawant  Creek  watershed. 

A  development  on  the  west  branch  of  the  Tunungawant  Creek,  near 
Bradford,  is  the  only  utilization  of  the  stream  for  a  water  power. 
Industrially,  the  production  of  oil  and  its  refinement  and  allied  inter- 


75 


ests  are  dominant,  while  plants  for  the  manufacture  of  wood  alcohol 
are  of  especial  importance  in  the  consideration  of  stream  pollution. 

The  Erie  Railroad  and  the  Buffalo,  Rochester  and  Pittsburgh  Kail- 
road  operate  parallel  lines  practically  throughout  the  course  of  the 
creek,  the  total  length  of  railroad  within  the  watershed  amounting 
to  about  forty-five  miles.  The  only  public  water  supply  of  record  is 
that  of  Bradford  City,  which  is  derived  from  the  uninhabited  water- 
sheds of  Gilbert  and  Marilla  Brooks,  augmented  by  driven  wells. 
Up  to  a  quite  recent  date  there  was  but  one  industrial  supply,  that 
of  the  U.  IS.  Pipe  Line  Pumping  Plant,  on  Kendall  Creek,  which  uses 
the  water  of  that  creek  for  boiler  purposes. 

Domestic  sewage  is  discharged  into  the  stream  directly  or  indirectly 
by  about  100  persons  at  Limestone,  and  17,500  at  Bradford.  Indus- 
trial wastes  of  importance  are  contributed  by  the  tannery  at  Lime- 
stone, by  the  Dnpont  Nitroglycerine  Works  at  Custer  City,  and  by 
the  following  chemical  plants  manufacturing  wood  alcohol  and  ace- 
tate of  lime:  Bradford,  A.  B.  Smith  Chemical  Company;  Bradford, 
Nussbauni  Chemical  Company;  Custer  City,  Custer  City  Chemical 
Company;  Degolia,  Minard  Run  Chemical  Company;  Degolia,  Ameri- 
can Acid  &  Alkali  Coinpan}';  Tain  tor,  Taintor  Chemical  Company; 
Lewis  Run,  Lewis  Run  Manufacturing  Company. 

The  chemical  plant  wastes  have  been  discussed  elsewhere  in  this 
report  and  will  be  the  subject  of  further  investigation  by  the  Depart- 
ment. Owing  to  the  extensive  production  of  oil  throughout  the  valley 
of  Tunungawant  Creek,  wastes  wash  down  with  every  rain  and  oil  is 
constantly  present  and  perceptible  on  the  water  of  the  creek,  es- 
pecially in  the  lower  portion  of  its  course. 

Limestone,  Cattaraugus  County,  New  York,  is  an  incorporated 
village,  with  a  population  estimated  at  about  720,  and  situated  about 
one  mile  north  of  the  State  Line  on  Tunungawant  Creek.  There  is 
no  comprehensive  sewerage  system  in  the  village  and  the  question  of 
sewerage  has  not  been  taken  up  with  the  New  York  State  Department 
of  Health,  but  it  is  estimated  that  a  population  of  about  400  contrib- 
utes sewage  either  directly  or  indirectly.  A  large  tannery  at  this 
point  discharges  characteristic  wastes. 

Custer  City,  McKean  County,  a  small  village  with  about  300  inhabi- 
tants, situated  on  Tunungawant  Creek,  about  four  miles  above  Brad- 
ford, is  in  the  heart  of  a  rich  and  active  oil  field,  oil  production  being 
its  chief  industry.  The  Custer  City  Chemical  Company  operates  a 
wood  alcohol  plant  at  this  point  and  the  Dupont  de  Nemours  Powder 
Company  has  a  nitroglycerine  plant. 

The  city  of  Bradford,  McKean  County,  has  a  population  of  about 
17,500,  and  is  situated  on  Tunungawant  Creek,  about  three  miles 
south  of  the  State  line.  Petroleum  and  natural  gas  are  found  in 
abundance  in  this  vicinity  and  these  resources  form  the  basis  for  the 


70 


greater  portion  of  the  industries.  There  are  five  large  establish- 
ments manufacturing  oil  well  supplies,  two  oil  refineries,  repair 
shops  of  the  Erie  and  B.  II.  &  P.  Railroad  Companies,  silk  mills, 
two  cutlery  works,  one  extensive  foundry,  a  machine  shop,  a  glass 
factory,  one  terra  cotta  works  and  five  miscellaneous  plants.  Brad- 
ford has  a  municipal  water  system,  said  to  be  self-supporting,  it 
serves  practically  the  entire  population,  about  650  persons  obtain- 
ing their  drinking  water  from  wells  and  springs.  The  system  com- 
prises perhaps  twenty-two  miles  of  street  mains,  two  impounding 
reservoirs,  one  distributing  reservoir,  drilled  wells,  pumping  sta- 
tion and  two  lines  of  gravity  supply  mains  to  the  city.  Water  is 
derived  from  Marilla  Brook  and  one  of  its  tributaries,  Gilbert  Brook, 
the  reservoir  being  located  about  five  miles  west  of  the  city.  This 
supply  is  augmented  by  ground  water  from  six  drilled  wells,  located 
in  the  valley  of  Marilla  Brook  immediately  below  Reservoir  No.  3. 
The  city  owns  and  controls  some  8,000  acres  or  practically  the  entire 
watershed,  which  is  well  timbered  and  uninhabited.  About  twenty- 
three  miles  of  public  sewers  serve  a  large  portion  of  the  population 
and  discharge  into  the  creek.  About  eighteen  miles  of  this  system 
is  tributary  to  one  main  sewer  outlet,  the  system  receiving  a  com- 
paratively small  amount  of  surface  drainage.  Beside  the  public 
system  there  are  a  great  many  private  sewers. 

On  May  7th,  1908,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  issued  a  permit  to 
the  city  of  Bradford  for  the  construction  of  certain  sewer  extensions 
and  requiring  that  comprehensive  plans  for  a  sanitary  sewerage  sys- 
tem and  disposal  works  for  the  treatment  of  all  of  the  sewage  of  the 
city  be  prepared  and  submitted  for  approval  on  or  before  May  1st, 
1909.  The  industrial  plants  in  Bradford,  though  extensive,  appear 
to  discharge  wastes  of  little  or  no  importance,  with  the  exception  of 
the  A.  B.  Smith  Chemical  Company  and  the  Nussbaum  Chemical 
Company. 

In  a  decree  issued  by  the  Commissioner  of  Health  to  Bradford  city, 
in  April,  1912,  approving  plans  for  a  comprehensive  sewerage  system 
and  sewage  disposal  works,  the  following  discussion  may  be  found 
relative  to  the  State's  policy  concerning  the  discharge  of  sewage  into 
streams  in  the  neighborhood : 

"The  Allegheny  River  and  its  tributaries  in  McKean  County  and  vicinity  are 
comparatively  free  from  such  pollution  as  can,  in  a  great  measure,  be  eliminated . 
It  is  the  policy  of  the  Commonwealth  to  preserve  the  purity  of  the  waters  of  the 
State  for  the  protection  of  the  public  health,  and,  in  conformity  with  this  policy, 
no  more  sewage  should  be  discharged  into  State  waters,  but,  to  the  contrary,  there 
should  be  progress  made  in  taking  out  sewage  now  going  into  streams. 

"The  industrial  pollutions  of  the  Allegheny  River  and  its  tributaries  above 
Warren  consist  largely  of  oil  and  the  troublesome  "rod  wax",  a  greasy  deposit 
consisting  largely  of  paraffin  washed  down  with  every  rain  from  the  vicinity  of  the 
oil  wells:  also  tannery  wastes  and  particularly  tar  and  dilute  acids  from  chemical 
and  acid  manufacturing  plants.  The  Department  is  making  efforts  to  reduce  these 
pollutions,  especially  the  creosote,  which  imparts  a  disagreeable  taste  and  odor 
to  the  water  at  Warren,  where  the  river  is  the  source  of  supply  to  ten  thousand 
people. 

* 

6  77 


"Iii  Tunungawsnt  Crock,  aside  from  the  oil  production  wastes  generally  in  evi- 
dence on  the  surface,  the  more  extensive  pollutions  include  sewage  from  Bradford 
city,  and,  to  some  extent,  from  private  sewers  in  Limestone  village,  New  York,  and 
industrial  wastes  from  a  tannery  at  Limestone,  two  oil  refineries  at  Bradford, 
an  add  plant  on  the  East  Branch  just  above  the  city  and  three  chemical  plants, 
two  on  the  East  Branch  and  one  on  the  West  Branch,  all  above  the  city.  Two 
other  chemical  plants  on  the  East  Branch  have,  at  the  instigation  of  the  Depart- 
ment, installed  the  necessary  apparatus  to  prevent  their  wastes  entering  the 
stream.  The  Emery  Refinery,  at  Bradford,  is  installing  apparatus  to  prevent 
pollution  of  the  water  by  that  plant 

"Bradford  must, >  necessarily,  build  a  larger  plant  for  the  treatment  of  its 
sewage  than  Other  towns  of  the  same  size,  because  of  the  poor  condition  of  its 
sewers  and  the  fact  that  it  does  not  have  money  to  reconstruct  the  sewers  ami 
eliminate  storm  water  from  them.  There  will  be  some  storm  overflows  required, 
probably   for  a   number  of  years,    along   the   proposed   intercepting   system. 

"The  emergency  shear  gates  proposed  to  permit  the  discharge  of  sewage  through 
the  weir  walls  directly  to  the  creek,  at  tiie  two  proposed  overflow  main  outlets  on 
the  east  and  west  main  interceptors,  are  superfluous  and  should  be  eliminated  be- 
cause there  are  overflows  anyway.  Shear  gates  will  permit  the  intentional  or 
careless  discharge  of  part  or  all  of  the  sewage  to  the  creek  at  any  time  when  the  object 
of  the  intercepting  sewer  is  to  convey  the  sewage  below  the  town  to  the  site  of  the 
sewage  disposal  works. 

"So  lung  as  storm  water  shall  be  admitted  to  the  sewer  system  there  will  be  an 
occasional  discharge  of  sewage  into  the  stream,  and  the  danger  of  contamination 
of  the  river  water  with  germs  of  disease  will  be  ever  present.  Practical  considerations 
senn  to  indicate  that  it  will  be  expedient  to  permit  the  construction  and  temporary 
use  of  the  proposed  overflow  manholes,  provided  the  city  shall  exercise  diligence 
in  reducing  the  amount  of  storm  water  admitted  to  a  minimum.  When  this  shall 
have  been  accomplished,  the  overflows  will  come  into  operation  only  in  the  event 
of  serious  damage  to  the  outfall  sewer,  and  this  seems  a  very  remote  possibility. 

"The  minimum  dry  weather  flow  in  Tunungawant  Creek,  past  the  point  where 
the  proposed  main  stwei  overflows  will  be  located  probably,  does  not  exceed  ten 
cubic  feet  per  second,  an  amount  about-  equal  to  the  capacity  of  the  proposed 
main  outfall  sewer.  The  minimum  run-off  below  Foster  Brook,  which  enters 
a  short  distance  down-stream  from  the  sewage  disposal  site,  is  probably  less  than 
fourteen  cubic  feet  per  second.  These  estimates  are  based  on  a  minimum  run  off  of 
one-tenth  second  feet  per  square  mile  of  drainage  area. 

"The  city  of  Bradford  should  prepare  to  secure  partial  treatment  of  its  sewage. 
Effective  screening  or  sedimentation  and  disinfection  will  materially  improve  the 
quality  of  the  water  in  the  creek. 

"The  site  selected  for  the  disposal  works  is  in  many  respects  adapted  for  the  pur- 
pose. It  is  fairly  well  isolated,  but  it  appears  that  other  sites  have  not  been  care- 
fully considered  and  it  may  be  that  there  are  other  places  that  are  better  adapted 
for  the  erection  of  sewage  disposal  works  than  the  one  determined  upon.  This  matter 
should  be  given  further  consideration." 

(c)  Typhoid  Fever.  The  cases  of  typhoid  fever  reported  by  the  local 
authorities  of  Bradford  city  to  the  State  Department  of  Health,  for 
the  years  1906  to  1912,  inclusive,  are  given  in  the  following  table: 

Typhoid   Fever  Cases  Reported   for   Bradford,    1906—1912,    inclusive. 


Rrarlford    City, 


1906. 

1907. 

190S. 

1909. 

1910. 
16 

1911. 

30 

2 

19 

7 

18 

Section  5. — Neic  York  State  Line  to  Conewango  Creek. 

From  the  State  Line  the  Allegheny  River  flows  in  a  long  gentle 
bend  through  the  extreme  eastern  part  of  Warren  County  to  where 
it  is  joined  by  Kinzua  Creek.  Here  it  turns  to  the  west  and  follows 
this  direction  to  Warren,  the  point  of  confluence  of  the  Allegheny 


78 


Kiver  and  Conewango  Creek.  Just  below  the  State  Line,  above  Ga- 
wango,  tbe  hills  for  the  first  time  converge  on  the  river  banks,  until 
the  valley  is  but  a  quarter  of  a  mile  wide  and  there  is  a  sudd<  u 
change  in  the  profile  of  the  river,  for  the  rate  of  slope  for  twenty 
miles  below  the  State  Line  increases  to  five  feet  a  mile.  During  this 
part  of  its  course  the  bed  of  the  river  is  covered  with  gravel,  except 
at  Limestone  Falls,  where  a  solid  ledge  of  limestone  underlies  the 
river  bed  and  the  descent  is  3.84  feet  in  a  distance  of  G50  feet. 
Throughout  these  twenty  miles  the  pools  between  the  rapids  are  shal- 
low, rarely  exceeding  five  feet  in  depth.  About  ten  miles  above  War- 
ren loose  rocks  begin  to  make  their  appearance  in  the  bed  of  the 
stream.  The  flats  along  this  section  of  the  river  are  fairly  well  farmed, 
but  the  hills  are  usually  steep  and  wooded.  Below  Sugar  Eun,  oil 
wells  are  found  all  along  the  river  to  Warren. 

Kinzua  Creek,  the  main  tributary  of  this  section  of  the  river,  rises 
in  the  southwestern  part  of  McKean  County  and  flows  in  a  general 
northwesterly  direction  to  its  confluence  with  the  river  in  the  extreme 
eastern  part  of  Warren  County.  The  valley  of  this  creek  is  steep, 
rugged  and  covered  to  a  considerable  extent  with  underbrush.  At 
its  mouth  Kinzua  Creek  is  about  fifty  feet  wide  and  fairly  clear. 
The  total  population  of  this  section  of  the  Allegheny  River,  princi- 
pally in  the  Kinzua  Drainage  Basin,  is  20,740,  of  which  11,300  are 
urban  and  9,440  rural.  Tanneries  are  located  at  Mt.  Jewett,  Stone- 
ham,  and  Glade. 

More  than  nine-tenths  of  the  total  area  in  Kinzua  Creek  drainage 
basin  is  still  wooded.  The  farms  are  generally  poor,  the  owners 
raising  only  enough  for  home  consumption.  They  depend  for  a  liveli- 
hood on  the  forest  industries,  or  on  the  oil  and  gas  now  less  abun- 
dant in  the  territory,  or  are  employed  in  the  large  chemical  mills. 

Neither  the  river  nor  its  tributaries  in  this  section  are  used  for 
navigation  or  water  power  purposes. 

The  presence  of  tanneries  and  chemical  plants  has  destroyed  the 
fish  in  the  larger  streams  but  the  smaller  afford  excellent  trout  fish- 
ing. 

That  portion  of  the  area  lying  in  McKean  County  contains  con- 
siderable second  growth  timber  which  is  largely  used  for  the  manu- 
facture of  wood  alcohol,  engaged  in  the  production  of  which  there  are 
eleven  chemical  plants.  Chemical  plants,  tanneries  and  glass  works 
form  the  most  important  industries.  The  Chautauqua  Division  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  follows  the  Allegheny  River  throughout  this 
section,  with  branches  extending  up  Kinzua  Creek  toward  Mt.  Jewett 
and  southeast  from  Warren  toward  Kane.  There  are  a  number  of 
minor  roads  formerly  used  in  timber  developments.  The  total  mileage 
of  railroads  amounts  to  about  116  miles. 


79 


The  only  large  public  water  supply  is  derived  from  an  intake  on 
the  Allegheny  River  at  Glade  from  which  the  city  of  Warren  receives 
an  emergency  supply.    The  water  is  subjected  to  mechanical  filtration. 

A  population  of  over  5,000  persons  at  Kane  and  Mt.  Jewett  con- 
tribute sewage  to  the  stream  by  way  of  Kinzua  Creek.  Manufactural 
wastes  form  a  very  extensive  pollution  seriously  menacing  the  water 
supply  of  Warren.  These  wastes  come  from  the  tanneries  and  chemi- 
cal plants. 

The  tanneries  are  three  in  number,  one  at  Glade  and  one  at  Stone- 
ham  (both  plants  of  the  Elk  Tanning  Company),  and  one  at  Mt. 
Jewett,  owned  by  the  Mt.  Jewett  Tanning  Company. 

The  chemical  plants,  eleven  in  number,  are  as  follows: 


Place. 

Name   of   Company. 

National    Chemical    Company. 

K       1       ma' 

National    Chemical    Company. 

Newton   Chemical  Company. 

John    Barkley    Chemical    Company. 

Alton    Chemical    Company. 

Kinzua    Chemical   Company. 
Olivedale    Chemical    Company. 

Himes  Chemical  Company. 

E.    1-    DaT    Chemical    Company. 

Bradford    Chemical   Company. 

A.    P..    Smith    &   Company. 

With  the  exception  of  the  Struthers  plant  these  are  all  located 
above  the  Warren  intake  and  their  wastes  seriously  affect  the  char- 
acter of  the  water  and  the  operation  of  the  filtration  works  at  War- 
ren. The  wastes  from  plants  of  this  kind  have  been  considered  in 
detail  elsewhere  in  this  report.  The  waste  water  from  the  Keystone 
Glue  Company,  at  Glade,  amounts  to  about  100,000  gallons  a  day 
and  carries  much  lime  and  probably  contains  fine  hide  trimmings 
and  a  considerable  amount  of  hair.  The  fourteen-inch  sewer  extending 
from  this  plant  to  the  river  is  provided  with  catching  boxes  from 
which  the  lime  and  hair  are  periodically  removed  and  used  for 
fertilizer. 

Mt.  Jewett  borough  is  an  industrial  and  railroad  town,  with  a 
population  of  about  1,800,  situated  on  a  divide,  the  ground  sloping 
in  three  directions,  from  the  borough  to  Potato  Creek  on  the  south 
and  east,  to  Kinzua  Creek  on  the  north,  and  to  the  west  branch  of 
the  Clarion  River  on  the  southwest.  The  greater  part  of  the  drain- 
age goes  to  Kinzua  Creek.  No  less  than  eight  railroads  radiate  from 
the  borough,  these  having  all  been  started  as  lumber  roads  and  some 
of  them  are  still  devoted  to  that  industry.  It  is  a  terminal  point 
of  the  Pittsburg  and  Western  Railroad,  a  part  of  the  Baltimore  & 
Ohio  system ;  it  is  also  reached  by  the  Erie  and  the  Buffalo,  Rochester 
&  Pittsburgh,  beside  several  minor  local  roads.  Its  principal  indus- 
tries comprise  the  plant  of  the  Consolidated  Window  Glass  Company, 

80 


employing  about  150  men;  the  Mt.  Jewett  Tanning  Company's  tan- 
nery and  a  furniture  factory.  It  is  also  an  oil  centre,  the  production 
in  the  vicinity  being  quite  extensive.  For  domestic  use  a  great  deal 
of  water  is  derived  from  private  wells,  while  a  portion  of  the  popula- 
tion is  served  by  a  public  system  obtaining  its  supply  from  springs. 
The  Consolidated  Window  Glass  Company  has  a  private  industrial 
supply  furnishing  water  from  wells  and  springs  to  its  plant.  The  only 
wastes  of  any  importance  aside  from  domestic  sewage  are  the  exten- 
sive wastes  from  the  Mt.  Jewett  tannery.  These  enter  the  Allegheny 
River  by  way  of  Kinzua  Creek. 

Kane  is  a  borough  of  about  8,000  inhabitants,  situated  like  Mt. 
Jewett  on  the  summit  of  a  divide,  with  drainage  in  three  directions, 
on  the  north  to  Kinzua  Creek,  on  the  southwest  to  Tionesta  Creek 
and  on  the  southeast  to  the  Clarion  River.  Originally  a  lumber  town, 
it  is  now  the  centre  of  considerable  oil  and  gas  production  and  an 
important  railroad  junction.  The  Philadelphia  and  Erie  branch  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad,  and  the  Pittsburgh  &  Western  branch  of 
the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  intersect  at  this  point,  which  is  also  the  eastern 
terminus  of  the  Kane  &  Elk  Railroad,  a  lumber  road  of  considerable 
local  consequence.  Its  industries  comprise  four  window  glass  plants, 
two  bottle  glass  plants,  brush  handle,  cutlery,  saw  tooth,  and  blind 
factories  as  well  as  repair  shops  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  and 
of  the  Standard  Oil  Company.  The  inhabitants  are  largely  furnished 
with  water  by  the  Spring  Water  Company,  whose  supply  consists  of 
wells,  springs  and  surface  waters,  generally  considered  to  be  of  good 
quality  and  adequate,  except  during  extremely  dry  seasons.  Cess- 
pools and  privies  are  in  general  use,  many  of  which  overflow  and,  to- 
gether with  kitchen  slops  deposited  in  the  gutters  in  some  of  the  un 
sewered  districts,  cause  disagreeable  and  sometimes  menacing  con- 
ditions. The  borough  has  a  system  of  combined  sewers  in  general 
use,  with  pipes  ranging  from  six  to  twenty-four  inches  in  diameter. 
Two  principal  outlets,  twelve  and  twenty-four  inches  in  diameter, 
discharge  into  Kinzua  Creek,  about  half  a  mile  and  two-thirds  of  a 
mile,  respectively,  below  the  borough  line.  These  two  sewers  form 
the  outlets  of  a  system  comprising  about  eight  miles  and  a  half  of 
sewers  and  serving  about  half  the  population  of  the  town.  A  ten-inch, 
a  twelve-inch  and  an  eighteen-inch  outfall  sewer  serving  a  system 
comprising  about  a  mile  and  a  half  of  sewers  in  the  western  district 
of  the  town,  discharge  into  the  east  branch  of  Tionesta  Creek.  The 
White  Rock  Land  Compan}^  also  has  a  sewer  in  this  district,  serving 
some  twenty  five  houses.  The  Department  issued  a  permit,  on  Octo- 
ber 8th,  1907,  to  this  land  company,  permitting  temporary  discharge 
of  sewage  and  requiring  ultimate  disposal,  either  independently  or  in 
co-operation  with  the  borough  of  Kane.    On  October  7th,  and  on  No- 


81 


vember  9th,  1907,  permits  were  issued  to  the  borough  of  Kane  permit 
ting  temporary  discharge  of  sewage  and  calling  for  plans  for  a  com- 
prehensive sewerage  system  adapted  to  future  purification  of  the 
sewage.  Sewerage  plans  were  submitted  and  approved  by  the  De- 
partment in  May.  1908,  Lnvolving  two  systems  and  ultimately  two  dis- 
posal plants,  one  in  the  Tionesta  Creek  district  and  the  oilier  in  the 
Kinzua  Greek  district.  There  appear  to  he  no  manufactural  wastes 
in  the  borough  which  constitute  a  serious  menace. 

Btoneham  is  a  village  of  about  200  inhabitants,  situated  on  the 
Western  Division  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad,  about  live  miles 
southeast  of  Warren.  Industrially  it  depends  upon  the  large  tannery 
of  the  Elk  Tanning  Company,  the  wastes  from  which  have  been  re- 
ferred to  above. 

Glade  is  a  village  of  about  700  inhabitants,  located  on  the  banks 
of  the  Allegheny  River,  some  two  miles  above  Warren.  Its  principal 
industries  comprise  the  Keystone  Glue  works  and  the  tannery  of  the 
Elk  Tanning  Company.  The  tannery  has  a  private  industrial  water 
supply  system,  using  water  from  the  Allegheny  River.  The  wastes 
from  these  plants  are  discharged  below  the  Warren  intake. 

Kinzua  is  a  village  of  about  000  inhabitants,  situated  on  the  river, 
at  the  mouth  of  Kinzua  Creek,  about  ten  miles  above  Warren.  The 
river  receives  the  wastes  from  a  chemical  plant  at  this  point. 

Table  XXXIII  indicates  the  variableness  and  the  quality  of  the 
water  of  the  Allegheny  River,  at  the  intake  of  the  Warren  Water 
Company,  at  Warren.  These  analyses  were  made  by  the  company's 
chemist,  and  are  copied  from  his  report. 


TABLE  XXXIII.— Chemical  Analyses  of  Allegheny  River  Water  at  Warren  Water 
Company    Station,    Warren,    Pa.     Parts   per   Million. 


Determinations. 


Oct. 

4,  1907. 


Appearance,     Murky. 

Turbidity .150 

Odor None. 

Color 40.000 

Nitrogen   as   Albuminoid    Ammonia,    ..  .280 

Nitrogen,    Free    Ammonia .050 

Nitrogen   Nitrites .004 

Nitrogen    Nitrates,    Trace. 

Chlorine.                    20.000 

Oxygen   Absorbed 7.800 

Total    Solids 115.000 

Iron l.oiiO 

Alkalinity 90.000 

Permanent   Hardness,    None. 

Snlpb.   Acid   (SO,) s.ooo 

Carbonic  Acid 6.000 

Dissolved    Oxygen |           51.900 

Total  Iron 


Oct. 
4,  1907. 


Cloudy. 

0.000 
None. 

30.000 

0.0S5 

.090 

.006 

.0«0 

12.000 

.700 

190.000 

.250 

100.000 

None. 

8.000 
6.000 
10. 200 


Nov. 

23,  1907. 


Clear. 
None. 

Kerosene. 


.002 

.003 

.002 

.400 

10.000 

3.300 

74.000 

.400 

30.000 

16.000 

16.000 

6.000 

.700 

.700 


Nov. 
2S,  1907. 


Clear. 

None. 
None. 


.155 

.O'KV. 

.7000 

3.0 

3.9 

116.0 

.3 

50.0 

12.0 

11.0 

2.0 


Dec. 
6,  1907. 


Clear. 
None. 
None. 

.010 
.140 
.002 
.0091 
.7.-.00 
6.0 
4.1 
103.0 

.400 
80.0 
19.5 
13.0 
3.5 


82 


In  the  sewerage  decree  of  Octobet  7th,  1 1)07,  issued  by  the  Com- 
missioner of  Health  to  the  borough  of  Kane,  tlie  following  discussion 
may  be  found : 

"A  sanitary  survey  by  the  Department  disclosed  the  existence  within  the  borough 
of  one  hundred  and  thirty-six  nuisances  resulting  from  the  improper  disposal  of 
sewage  and  kitchen  dainage  and  these  are  scattered  at  different  points,  both  in 
the  sewered  and  the  unsewcred  portions  of  the  town.  There  are  many  estates 
abutting  sewers  that  have  not  been  connected  therewith.  In  the  interests  of  public 
health  the  local  authorities  should  either  compel  the  connection  of  every  estate  with 
the  abutting  sewer  or  enforce  measures  to  secure  a  sanitary  method  of  disposal  of 
domestic  wastes  thereon.  Cesspools  should  be  abandoned  and  privy  vaults,  if 
used,  should  be  made  of  masonry  water-tight  and  carried  up  above  the  surface  of  the 
ground  to  keep  out  all  surface  drainage,  and  the  local  health  board  should  see  to 
it  that  these  receptacles  are  cleaned  out  before  they  become  full. 

"The  disposal  of  kitchen  drainage  into  street  gutters  is  a  public  menace,  more 
especially  during  the  presence  of  an  epidemic.  Health  precautions  demand  that 
such  drainage  be  conducted  to  the  sewer.  A  plentiful  supply  of  lime  or  some  other 
disinfectant  should  be  used  along  the  street  gutters  until  a  permanent  remedy  be 
afforded. 

"The  Board  of  Health  should  cause  an  abandonment  of  all  wells  and  springs  in 
the  borough  so  located  as  to  be  liable  to  surface  or  underground  pollution.  Failure 
to  take  this  precaution  at  Ridgway,  Elk  County,  has  undoubtedly  contributed  to 
the  extent  of  typhoid  fever  there.  At  present  there  are  over  two  hundred  and  sixty 
cases  under  treatment,   attributable  to  polluted  water  supply. 

"It  appears  that  the  borough  of  Kane  has  extended  its'  sewers  during  the  years 
nineteen  hundred  and  five  and  nineteen  hundred  and  six,  and  during  the  current 
year,  in  defiance  of  State  law  and  under  the  advice,  so  it  is  reported,  of  some  of  its 
officers.  This  policy  was  most  ill-advised  and  extravagant.  The  sewers  which 
have  been  built  are  much  larger  than  necessary  to  carry  off  sewage  proper  and 
much  too  small  to  remove  sewage  and  roof  and  street  water.  The  discharge  of  sewage 
into  natural  water  courses  in  Pennsylvania  has  resulted  in  so  much  sickness  and 
death  that  the  interests  of  the  public  health  have  demanded  the  enactment  of 
a  law  to  obviate  such  pollution.  It  is  the  policy  of  the  Commonwealth  to  ultimately 
remove  from  all  streams  all  domestic  sewage  and  to  require  the  treatment  thereof 
before  the  liquid  be  permitted  to  go  into  natural  water  courses.  The  cost  of  treating 
both  sewage  and  storm  water  is  prohibitive  and  both  economy  and  efficiency  dictate 
that  separate  pipes  shall  be  provided  in  many  cases  for  the  removal  of  the  sewage. 
The  sewers  in  Kane  borough  now  receive  large  quantities  of  roof  water,  and  the 
treatment  of  this  storm  water  would  make  necessary  a  much  larger  expenditure, 
not  only  for  the  cost  of  erecting  works  big  enough  to  receive  and  handle  both  sewage 
and  storm  water,  but  also  thereafter  for  the  operation  of  such  unnecessarily  large 
works. 

"The  existing  sewers  have  been  largely  built  by  piecemeal,  without  due  regard  to 
the  ultimate  treatment  of  the  flow  or  of  the  amount  of  flow  which  would  be  admitted 
to  the  pipe.  At  this  time  it  is  essential  that  the  borough  should  study  the  entire  ques- 
tion and  lay  out  a  comprehensive  sewerage  system  and  sewage  disposal  works,  not 
only  for  the  present  needs,  but  also  adapted  to  the  growing  and  future  demands  of 
the  town. 

"Surface  drainage  facilities  are  naturally  good.  The  slopes  of  the  borough  are 
adequate  to  afford  speedy  drainage,  and  surface  waters  now  reach  natural  water 
courses  in  short  distances  and  by  them  are  conducted  to  the  main  streams.  Short 
lines  of  storm  drains  may  be  built  from  time  to  time  to  perfect  this  system  so  that 
the  problem  of  how  to  handle  storm  water  is  easy  of  solution.  It  is  not  necessary, 
in  many  cases,  to  conduct  roof  water  to  the  sewers.  The  roof  pipes  may  be  led  "to 
the  street  gutters  and  the  water  be  thus  disposed  of  at  the  least  cost.  This  method 
prevails  and  is  satisfactory  in  communities  several  times  the  size  of  Kane.  If 
this  were  done,  sewage  only  would  remain  to  be  conveyed  in  the  sewer  pipes  to  the 
disposal  works,  hence  the  size  of  the  works  would  be  proportionately  reduced  and 
the  cost  of  purification  kept  down  to  the  minimum. 

"It  does  not  follow,  because  sewage  is  now  discharged  into  the  Kinzua  and 
Tionesta  Creeks,  that  this  disposition  is  proper,  or  that  the  public  health  demands 
that  the  pollutions  shall  be  increased.  To  the  contrary,  while  it  is  evident  that 
sewer  extensions  are  needed  in  the  borough,  the  petitioners  fail  to  show  why  it  is 
necessary  that  the  health  of  the  people  owning  property  along  the  streams  and'whose 
stock  drink  from  the  waters  outside  of  the  limits  of  the  borough  should  be  en- 
dangered by  a  continuation  of  the  pollution  of  these  waters.  The  borough's  assessed 
valuation  is  reported  to  be  one  million  nine  hundred  and  twenty-four  thousand,  four 
hundred  and  twenty  dollars,  and  its  bonded  debt  fifty  thousand,  five  hundred 
dollars.  If  these  figures  are  correct,  the  municipal  borrowing  capacity  is  in  the 
neighborhood  of  eighty-four  thousand  dollars,  a  sum  much  greater  than  is  necessary 
to  defray  the  cost  of  treatment  of  the  sewage  before  it  is  discharged  into  the  waters 
of  the  creek. 

"Owing  to  the  very  iinsanitary  conditions  in  the  unsewered  districts  and  the  im- 
mediate benefits  that  will  accrue  from  the  extensions  of  existing  sewers,  and  because 
the  railroad  depot  cesspool  should  be  abandoned  and  the  new  hotel  on  Fraley  Street 
in  the  vicinity,  cannot  be  opened  without  an  extension  to  the  existing  sysT^m. 
and  in  view  of  the  other  circumstances,  it  seems  desirable  that  sewers  should  be 
built  at  once." 

83 


At  Stoneham  the  Elk  Tanning  Company  has  erected  a  plant  for 
the  treatment  of  the  tannery  wastes.  At  the  Warren  Water  Works 
Filtration  plant  there  is  a  small  sewage  disposal  works. 

(c)     Typhoid  Fever.    The  typhoid  fever  cases  reported  by  the  Local 

health  authorities  of  the  boroughs  of  Kane  and  Mt.  Jewett,  from  1900 
to  1912,  inclusive,  are  given  in  the  following  table: 

Typhoid  Fever  Cases  Reported  for  this  Section . 


Town. 


Kane 

Mt.    Jewett, 


1906. 

1907. 

190S. 

1909. 

1910. 

1911. 

12 
0 

23 
0 

23 

0 

a 

i 

13 
0 

12 
0 

Section  6. — Conewango  Creek  to  Brokenstraw  Creek. 

(a)  Along  Allegheny  River.  From  Warren  the  Allegheny  Kiver 
flows  in  an  almost  due  westerly  direction  for  about  eight  miles  when 
it  is  joined  by  Big  Brokenstraw  Creek.  Below  the  Conewango,  the 
river  at  ordinary  stages  is  about  500  feet  wide,  the  pools  ranging 
in  depth  from  six  to  ten  feet,  and  the  rocks  which  have  fallen  from 
the  hills  gradually  increase  in  number  and  size,  in  the  channel  and 
along  the  shores.  The  valley  averages  about  one  mile  in  width  with 
high  rolling  hills  on  either  side.  To  the  north  of  the  river  there  are 
many  oil  wells  and  the  flats  in  the  valley  and  some  of  the  uplands  are 
farmed.  The  hills  on  the  south  bank  of  the  river  are  precipitous, 
most  of  them  covered  with  a  second  growth  of  timber.  The  average 
slope  of  the  river  in  this  portion  of  its  length  is  3.5  feet  in  a  mile. 

The  total  population  of  this  section  is  12,690  as  follows:  urban, 
11,000 ;  rural,  1,090.  Warren  with  a  population  of  11,000  is  the  only 
municipality  of  any  size  in  this  section  of  the  watershed. 

The  only  railroads  are  the  New  York  Central  and  the  Pennsylvania, 
parallel  lines,  both  following  down  the  north  bank  of  the  river  from 
Warren.  There  are  no  water  power  developments,  the  river  is  not 
navigable. 

The  chief  and  practically  only  source  of  sewage  pollution  is  at 
Warren  where  the  sewage  of  about  8,000  persons  reaches  the  river  by 
way  of  the  borough  sewers.  While  the  industries  are  numerous  and 
varied  in  character,  it  would  appear  that  the  principal  sources  of 
manufactural  wastes  which  would  noticeably  affect  the  character  of 
the  water  are  the  oil  refineries,  of  which  there  are  five  at  Warren. 
The  exact  extent  of  this  pollution  is  not  known  to  the  Department  at 


84 


the  present  time.     The  chemical  plant  at  Struthers,  above  Warren, 
noted  under  Section  5,  is  the  last  plan!  of  this  character  on  the  river 
proper  as  one  proceeds  down  the  stream,  and  there  are  no  tanneries 
in  this  division  or  below  it  except  those  on  the  main  tributary  streams. 
Warren  is  an  incorporated  borough  with  a  population  of  13,000 
situated  on  the  Allegheny  at  the  mouth  of  Conewango  Creek,  the 
river  and  creek  dividing  the  town  into  three  portions.    Beside  being 
a  railroad  centre  of  considerable  importance,  it  has  many  industries 
of   varied    character,    the   most   important   of   them    identified    with 
oil    production.       There    are    five    oil    refineries,    an    acid    works, 
three  furniture  factories,  a  foundry,  machine  shops,  boiler  shops,  and 
tank  works.    The  Elk  Tannery  and  the  Keystone  Glue  Works  at  Glade 
and  the  A.  B.  Smith  &  Co.  chemical  works  at  Struthers  are  intimately 
associated  with  the  industrial  life  at  Warren,  but  are  above  the  town 
and  have  been  previously  described.    The  water  supply  of  Warren  has 
been  derived  from  wells  along  the  river  and  chiefly  from  Morrison 
Bun,  a  stream  tributary  to  Dutchinans  Bun,  which  enters  the  river 
from  the  south  a  short  distance  above  the  borough.    On  March  15th, 
1907,    the    Warren    Water    Company,    which    furnishes    the    water 
to  the  public,  received  a  permit  from  the  Commissioner  of  Health 
for  the  use  of  driven   wells,   requiring  purification  of   this   source 
and    of    the    Morrison    Bun    supply    or    the    abandonment    of    the 
latter,    but    permitting    their    use    unfiltered   in    great    emergencies 
and  under  certain  conditions.    On  June  29th,  1908,  a  subsequent  per- 
mit was  issued  in  accordance  with  which  a  pumping  station  and  a 
filtration  plant  consisting  of  settling  tank  and  mechanical  filters  were 
erected  above  the  borough  near  Glade  Bun  bridge  at  a  point  where 
the  Morrison  Bun  supply  line  crosses  the  river.     The  Morrison  Bun 
supply  is  now  filtered  and  an  intake  is  constructed  to  permit  the  use 
of  filtered  river  water  at  such  times  as  the  regular  source  becomes 
inadequate.     The  former  pumping  station   and   driven  wells  were 
abandoned.    The  necessity  for  changes  and  improvements  in  the  water 
supply  was  brought  vividly  before  the  public  by  two  epidemics  of 
bowel  trouble  occurring  in  1906.     For  three  days  beginning  April 
14th  in  that  year,  a  rather  mild  epidemic  of  400  cases  was  attributed, 
on  investigation,  to  oil  well  and  sewage  pollution,  or  both,  of  the 
Morrison  Bun  supply.    From  December  7th  to  December  12th,  1906, 
an  epidemic  of  gastroenteritis  occurred,  numbering  over  1,800  cases, 
most  of  which  were  in  the  part  of  town  supplied  with  ground  water. 
Special  investigations  by  the  Department  indicated  a  sudden  con- 
tamination of  the  supply  by  sewage  traced  to  a  leaky  sewer  iri  close 
proximity  to  wells  of  the  water  company,  which  suddenly  developed 
leaks  caused  by  repairs  and  alterations  made  a  few  hours  previous 
to  the  rise  of  the  river,  flooded  the  wells  and  forced  the  escaping  sew- 
age into  them  in  sufficient  quantities  thoroughly  to  impregnate  the 


85 


supply  with  virulent  infection.  The  borough  has  an  extensive  system 
of  sew  eis  serving  some  8,000  persons.  Two  permits  have  been  issued 
by  the  Commissioner  of  Health;  one  on  September  29th,  1905,  allow- 
ing certain  extensions  and  granting  temporary  discharge  of  sewage 
into  the  river,  but  requiring  preparation  forthwith,  of  plans  for  a 
main  intercepting  sewer  to  be  adapted  to  ultimate  sewage  purifica- 
tion. A  second  permit  issued  on  March  23rd,  1907,  approving  certain 
extensions,  gave  permission  to  discharge  sewage  into  the  river  from 
a  proposed  intercepting  sewer  until  April  1st,  1909,  the  time  then  to 
be  extended  if  the  interests  of  the  public  health  so  demand.  The 
sewers  of  "Warren  are  for  the  greater  part,  combiued  sewers,  but  the 
permits  issued  for  extensions  have  in  view  the  ultimate  separation  of 
storm  drainage  and  sewage.  Many  of  the  manufacturing  plants  have 
private  outlets  into  Conewango  Creek  and  the  river  for  their  manu- 
factural  wastes. 

(b)  Conewango  Creek  Drainage  Area.  Conewango  Creek  rises  in 
two  small  brandies  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Cattaraugus  County, 
New  York  and  the  northeastern  part  of  Chautauqua  County,  New 
York.  From  the  junction  of  these  branches  in  Cattaraugus  County, 
the  creek  flows  in  a  southerly  direction  into  Chautauqua  County  only 
to  return  again  after  a  five-mile  flow;  the  creek  then  turns  again  to 
the  west  and  for  a  second  time  passes  into  Chautauqua  County,  flow- 
ing in  a  southerly  direction  across  the  Pennsylvania  line  into  the 
western  part  of  Warren  Count}'  and  forms  a  confluence  with  the 
Allegheny  River  at  Warren,  twelve  miles  south  of  the  point  at  which 
it  enters  Pennsylvania. 

The  main  tributary  in  New  Y^ork  State  is  Cassadaga  Creek.  This 
stream  rises  in  Bear  Lake  about  five  miles  from  Lake  Erie  and  flows 
in  a  southeasterly  direction  joining  Conewango  Creek  about  five 
miles  north  of  the  Pennsylvania  line.  Cassadaga  Creek  flows  through 
a  wide,  flat  valley  almost  its  entire  length.  The  country  at  its  head- 
waters is  a  farming  district,  but  lower  down  it  is  partly  wooded  while 
the  broad  valley  at  its  mouth  is  excellent  farming  land. 

Chautauqua  Lake  drains  into  Cassadaga  Creek  through  Chadakoin 
River  which  is  about  seventy-five  feet  wide  at  its  mouth.  At 
the  southern  end  of  Chautauqua  Lake  the  country  is  exceedingly 
flat  for  about  a  mile  and  a  half  on  either  side  of  the  lake;  and  on 
these  lands  numerous  summer  cottages  have  been  built.  To  the  east 
and  west  of  these  flats  there  is  a  rolling  farming  country  which  slopes 
toward  the  lake.  Above  the  narrow  portion  of  the  lake,  the  farms  are 
fewer  and  the  woodlands  increase,  especialty  on  the  north  shore,  which 
is  about  two-thirds  wooded.  Jackson  Run  is  the  largest  tributary  of 
the  Conewango  in  Pennsylvania.  It  rises  in  the  north  central  part 
of  Wan  en  County  ami  flows  in  a  southeasterly  direction  joining  the 
Conewango  two  miles  north  of  Warren.    The  headwaters  of  the  Cone- 


8G 


wango  flow  through  narrow  valleys  with  gently  rolling  farm  lands 
and  thinly  settled  waste  lands  on  either  side.  Below  Clear  Creek 
there  are  wide  plains  to  the  east  and  low  rolling  hills  to  the  west. 
After  the  creek  enters  Pennsylvania  the  valley  widens  with  rolling 
hills  to  either  side.  For  nearly  twenty  miles  Conewango  Creek 
parallels  the  Allegheny  Kiver  flowing  but  a  few  miles  west  of  it. 

Conewango  Creek  is  a  slow,  sluggish,  winding  stream,  its  fall  not 
averaging  over  live  feet  to  the  mile.  Although  its  descent  is  not  rapid 
it  has  a  continuous,  never-failing  supply  of  water  which  gives  it  con- 
siderable value  as  a  source  of  power.  The  numerous  water  power 
privileges  along  its  course  were  utilized  by  the  early  settlers  and  have 
aided  materially  in  developing  the  resources  of  the  country  by  furnish- 
ing the  power  for  sawmills,  carding  machines,  etc.  For  these  reasons 
it  was  made  a  public  highway  from  its  mouth  to  the  New  York  State 
line. 

About  1790  the  first  settlement  was  made  on  the  Conewango  Creek. 
The  valley  of  the  Conewango  was  at  this  time  largely  covered  with 
fine  pine  trees  and  the  first  class 'facilities  for  lumbering  attracted 
the  attention  of  lumbermen  over  a  hundred  years  ago.  The  adapta- 
bility of  the  fertile,  easily  worked  soil  in  this  region  was  taken  ad- 
vantage of  by  the  dairymen  and  fruit  growers  while  the  pines  were 
disappearing  beneath  the  woodman's  axe,  and  soon  many  places  were 
cleared  for  cultivation,  not  only  in  the  valleys,  but  upon  the  table 
lands  and  the  slopes  between  them.  Since  that  time  farming  interests 
have  been  paramount  to  all  others  in  this  section  and  thirty  years 
ago  this  was  the  most  densely  populated  and  best  agricultural  por- 
tion of  Warren  County. 

Conewango  Creek  drains  the  oil  fields  of  north  Warren  County. 
The  pioneer  well  of  these  fields  is  located  at  Glade  on  the  east  side 
of  this  creek  and  was  completed  early  in  1875.  Warren,  the  point 
where  the  Conewango  Creek  joins  the  Allegheny  Eiver  is  192  miles 
from  the  mouth  and  116  miles  from  the  source  of  the  Allegheny. 
Conewango  Creek  drains  an  area  of  935  square  miles  of  which  about 
798  are  in  New  York  State. 


The  total  population  of  the  basin  is  73,110,  divided  as  follows: 

New  York.  Pennsylvania. 

Urban,    41,370  3,500 

Eural,    25,520  2,720 

The  rural  population  is  approximately  thirty  to  the  square  mile. 

The  rainfall  data  taken  at  Warren  cover  a  period  of  twenty-four 
years  of  which  the  records  are  complete  for  twenty-one  years.  The 
average  annual  precipitation  in  inches  follows:  maximum,  58.22; 
minimum,  32.51;  mean  for  Hie  entire  twenty^four  years,  43.12. 

87 


There  are  no  cities  of  importance  situated  on  the  shed  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. Jamestown,  New  York,  with  a  population  of  20,000,  and  Chau- 
tauqua, New  York,  with  a  population  of  9,000,  are  by  far  the  largest 
places  in  the  basin. 

The  precise  extent  to  which  water  power  is  used  is  not  accurately 
known  by  the  Department,  but  the  Chadakoin  River,  the  outlet  of 
Chautauqua  Lake,  has  a  considerable  fall  which  is  utilized  by  one 
or  more  installations  at  both  Jamestown  and  Falconer.  There  are 
also  two  water  power  plants  near  the  mouth  of  the  creek  at  Warren, 
one  furnishing  35  II.  P.  and  operating  the  plant  of  the  Bashlin  Valve 
Company.  The  Conewango  watershed  in  New  York  State  is  given 
over  very  largely  to  farming  and  grazing,  while  the  industrial  plants 
are  principally  occupied  with  the  manufacture  of  furniture.  In  Penn- 
sylvania also,  agriculture  is  the  dominant  industry,  but  considerable 
oil  is  produced  in  the  lower  portion  of  the  basin  of  the  watershed 
near  Warren. 

Although  the  area  is  large,  it  is  well  equipped  with  railroad  facili- 
ties. A  branch  of  the  New  York  Central  extends  from  Warren  along 
Conewango  Creek  and  Cassadaga  Creek  to  its  head  waters.  A  branch 
of  the  Erie  extends  from  Jamestown  along  the  north  shore  of  Chau- 
tauqua Lake  with  a  branch  from  Mayville  to  Chautauqua.  The  Penn- 
sylvania &  Southwestern  extends  from  Jamestown  in  a  northeastern 
direction  to  Buffalo  following  Conewango  Creek  to  its  source,  and 
the  main  line  of  the  Erie  passes  through  Jamestown  extending  gener- 
ally east  and  west  across  the  watershed.  The  aggregate  of  these  rail- 
roads is  192  miles. 

Domestic  water  supplies  throughout  this  territory  are  derived  from 
wells  and  springs.  So  far  as  the  Department  is  informed  the  princi- 
pal streams  are  not  used  unless  exception  be  made  of  the  supply  de- 
rived from  the  lake  at  the  Chautauqua  Assembly  Grounds  which  is 
not  used  for  drinking  purposes.  The  extent  to  which  the  water  is 
used  for  industrial  supplies  has  not  been  ascertained. 

Chautauqua  Lake  is  clear  generally,  except  that  it  is  some  times 
muddy  in  the  .vicinity  of  Mayville,  and  of  good  quality  as  it  leaves 
the  lake  when  it  soon  changes  its  character  and  becomes  decidedly 
foul  on  the  introduction  of  sewage  and  industrial  wastes,  especially 
at  Jamestown  and  Falconer. 

Domestic  sewage  is  discharged  into  Conewango  Creek  or  its  tribu- 
taries by  an  urban  and  rural  population  estimated  at  30,850  in  New 
York  State  and  2,:iS0  in  Pennsylvania,  making  a  total  of  33,230  per- 
sons contributing  sewage  pollution  to  the  stream  out  of  a  total  popu- 
lation of  73,110.  So  far  as  known,  the  most  important  industrial 
wastes  are  those  from  the  three  worsted  mills  at  Jamestown  which 
employ  about  2,000  operatives  and  the  worsted  mills  at  Falconer 
with  300  employees,  the  wastes  consisting  of  spent  dyes  and  wool 
scourings. 

88 


It  is  said  that  Cassadaga  Creek  has  a  minimum  flow  of  eighteen 
cubic  feet  a  second  and  Conewango  Creek  at  the  junction  with  the 
Chadakoin  River  forty-two  cubic  feet  a  second.  At  Warren  the  mini- 
mum flow  (September  28th,  1908),  was  estimated  to  be  145  cubic- 
feet  a  second,  or  0.1  G  second  feet  to  the  square  mile. 

Cherry  Creek,  Chatauqua  County,  New  York,  is  an  incorporated 
village  with  a  population  of  630,  of  which  some  350  persons  contribute 
sewage  to  Conewango  Creek  near  whose  head  waters  the  town  is 
situated. 

Eandolph,  Cattaraugus  County,  New  York,  is  an  incorporated  vil- 
lage with  a  population  of  1,160.  It  is  situated  about  three  miles  from 
Conewango  Creek  on  a  tributary  entering  from  the  east.  While  there 
is  no  sewer  system  in  the  village,  it  is  estimated  that  about  640  per- 
sons contribute  sewage  pollution. 

Sinclairville,  Chautauqua  County,  New  York,  with  a  population 
of  510  is  situated  on  a  small  tributary  of  Cassadaga  Creek  a  short 
distance  from  that  stream.  The  polluting  population  is  estimated  at 
280. 

Mayville,  Chautauqua  County,  New  York,  population  1,020,  is  the 
county  seat  and  is  situated  at  the  head  of  Chautauqua  Lake.  It  has 
a  public  watei  supply  derived  from  shallow  wells  near  the  lake  front, 
the  quality  of  which  is  questionable.  The  village  has  no  sewer  sys- 
tem and  cesspools  are  in  general  use.  Probably  560  persons  con- 
tribute sewage. 

At  Point  Chatauqua  some  four  miles  from  the  head  of  Chautauqua 
Lake  and  on  its  west  shore,  are  located  the  Chautauqua  Association 
Grounds  with  an  average  population  during  the  summer  of  from 
6,000  to  7,000  persons,  the  attendance  occasionally  being  as  high  as 
12,000.  The  Assembly  Grounds  have  two  systems  of  water  supply, 
one  used  for  drinking  water  only  and  derived  from  four  artesian 
wells  which  yield  from  10,000  to  20,000  gallons  daily  and  the  other 
used  for  all  other  purposes,  water  being  pumped  from  Chautauqua 
Lake  to  the  extent  of  about  600,000  gallons  daily.  The  grounds  are 
provided  with  a  comprehensive,  separate  sewer  system  and  a  disposal 
plant  in  wliich  the  sewage  receives  chemical  treatment.  Lime  and 
occasionally  alum  are  used.  This  plant  serves  the  entire  population 
with  the  exception  of  the  men's  club,  from  which  the  sewage  is  dis- 
charged into  the  lake  about  1,300  feet  below  the  water  works  intake. 

Lake  wood,  Chautauqua  County,  New  York,  is  an  incorporated  vil- 
lage on  Chautauqua  Lake  about  four  miles  from  its  outlet  with  a 
population  of  550,  about  390  causing  sewage  pollution.  A  few  of  the 
houses  have  private  sewers,  but  there  is  no  comprehensive  system 
and  the  matter  of  sewage  disposal  has  not  been  taken  up  with  the 
New  York  Department  of  Health. 


89 


Celoron,  Chautauqua  County,  Now  York,  is  an  incorporated  village 
with  a  population  of  aboul  700,  situated  at  the  outlet  end  of  (Mum 
tauqua  Lake.  The  village  1ms  one  public  sewer  and  a  small,  inade- 
quate system  of  private  sewers.  On  October  10th,  1906,  the  New 
York  Commissioner  of  Health  granted  a  permit  Tor  the  discharge  of 
sewage  into  the  outlet  of  Chautauqua  Lake  for  a  period  of  one  year 
and  requiring  that  plans  Tor  an  adequate  system  of  sewers,  including 
disposal  works,  be  prepared  and  submitted  to  the  New  York  Depart- 
ment  of  Health. 

Jamestown,  New  York,  a  city  with  a  population  of  2(5,100,  is  situ- 
ated in  the  southeastern  part  of  Chautauqua  County  on  the  Chadakoin 
River.  This  river  forms  the  outlet  of  Chautauqua  Lake,  Jamestown 
being  situated  about  three  miles  from  the  lake.  The  industries  of 
Jamestown  are  quite  extensive  and  mostly  concerned  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  furniture.  There  are  three  worsted  mills  employing  about 
2,000  operatives  and  water  power  is  developed  here  to  some  extent. 
Jamestown  has  a  municipal  water  works  system.  The  city  contri- 
butes the  sewage  of  about  20,000  persons  collected  into  one  main  sewer 
thirty  inches  in  diameter,  which  carries  the  sewage  to  a  point  below 
Falconer,  where  it  discharges  into  the  river  not  far  from  its  junction 
with  Cassadaga  Creek.  The  worsted  mills  at  Jamestown  discharge 
their  wastes,  including  dyes  and  wool  scourings,  untreated,  into  the 
river. 

Falconer,  Chautauqua  County,  New  York,  with'  a  population  of 
1,04:0,  is  an  incorporated  village  lying  just  below  Jamestown  on  the 
Chadakoin  River.  It  is  a  manufacturing  town  including,  among  its 
industries,  a  worsted  mill  with  about  300  employees.  Water  is  sup- 
plied to  the  public  by  the  Jamestown  City  Water  Works.  Electric 
power  and  light  are  furnished  from  a  water  power  installation  on  the 
river  at  this  point.  The  village  has  no  general  system  of  sewers,  but 
on  October  10th,  1900,  the  New  Yrork  State  Commissioner  of  Health 
issued  a  permit  for  the  temporary  discharge  into  the  river  of  sewage 
from  a  small  public  sewer  and  requiring  preparation  of  plans  for  a 
general  system  of  sewers  and  sewage  disposal  works.  About  1,200 
persons  contribute  sewage  and  the  worsted  mill  discharges  wastes 
from  the  dye  rooms  and  sconrings  from  the  wool  into  the  stream. 

Sugar  Grove,  Warren  County,  is  a  borough  with  a  pop- 
ulation of  GOO  situated  near  the  head  waters  of  Still  Water  Creek, 
a  short  distance  south  of  the  State  boundary  line.  This  stream  flows 
in  a  northeasterly  direction  into  New  York  State,  entering  Conewango 
Creek  about  five  miles  north  of  the  State  line.  Its  industries  include 
the  Sugar  Grove  Canning  &  Preserving  Factory,  which  employ  from 
eighty  to  ninety  persons  during  the  season,  a  planing  and  saw  mill 
with  sixty-eight  employees  and  a  creamery.  There  is  no  public  water 
system  and  the  inhabitants  depend  upon  some  thirty-five  drilled  and 


90 


driven  wells  and  about  the  same  Dumber  of  <lug  wells.  There  is  no 
public  sewer  system  and  hut  few  private  sewers  and  two  or  three 
cesspools,  while  kitchen  wastes  are  largely  discharged  on  the  ground. 
About  210  persons  contribute  sewage  pollution. 

The  Warren  State  Hospital  for  the  Insane  with  about  1,500  inmates 
and  officials  is  situated  on  the  banks  of  Conewango  Creek  in  Cone- 
wango township  north  of  the  borough  of  Warren.  Its  water  supply 
is  derived  from  two  driven  wells  on  the  banks  of  Conewango  Creek 
about  250  feet  therefrom,  from  which  the  water  is  pumped  to  two 
reservoirs  with  a  total  capacity  of  1,200,000  gallons,  and  thence 
distributed  by  gravity.  The  daily  consumption  is  said  to  aver- 
age 500,000  gallons  in  summer  and  380,000  gallons  in  winter.  Sew- 
age is  discharged  from  the  institution  by  way  of  two  outlets  into 
Conewango  Creek.  On  March  23rd,  1907,  the  Commission  of  Health 
issued  a  decree  recommending  the  appropriation  by  the  State  of  the 
necessary  funds  to  install  sewage  disposal  works.  The  work  was  in 
progress  when  this  report  was  written. 

In  Table  34  are  given  chemical  analyses  of  the  Conewango  Creek 
water  at  Warren. 


91 


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92 


The  Conewango  and  its  tributaries  have  been  stocked  by  the  State 
Fish  Commission  with  trout,  bass,  yellow  perch,  and  pike  perch.  The 
Commission  has  also  stocked  the  Allegheny  River  at  Warren  with 
bass,  yellow  perch,  pickerel  and  pike  perch. 

(c)  Typhoid  Fever.  In  the  following  table  is  given  a  list  of  the 
typhoid  fever  cases  reported  for  the  years  1906  to  1912,  inclusive,  by 
the  local  health  authorities  of  the  boroughs  of  Warren  and  Sugar- 
Grove.  The  Warren  cases  include  those  treated  at  the  hospital,  a 
number  of  which  were  brought  in  from  the  surrounding  country. 


Typhoid  Fever  Cases  Reported  for  this  Section. 


Warren,    

Sugar  Grove, 


1906. 

1907. 

33 

0 

1908. 

1909. 

1910. 

1911. 

31 
0 

43 
0 

33 

0 

31 

0 

10 

2 

Section  7. — Brokenstraw  Greek  to  Tionesta  Greek. 

(a)  Along  Allegheny  River.  From  Big  Brokenstraw  Creek,  the 
Allegheny  flows  in  a  general  west  of  south  direction  for  a  distance 
of  thirty  miles,  to  where  it  is  joined  by  Tionesta  Creek.  Throughout 
this  distance  the  river  averages  500  feet  in  width  and  the  rocks  and 
boulders  which  have  fallen  from  the  hills  or  have  been  pushed  out  by 
the  tributaries  gradually  increase  in  size  and  number  in  the  channel 
and  along  the  banks.  The  average  slope  of  the  river  during  this  section 
of  its  course  is  3.5  feet  to  the  mile.  The  lowlands  adjacent  to  the 
river  have  been  cleared  for  cultivation  but  the  series  of  knobs  and 
ravines  on  either  side  contain  much  timber.  Near  Hickory,  on  the 
east  bank  of  the  river,  there  remains  a  large  tract  of  virgin  white 
pine.  Through  this  part  of  its  course  the  river  winds  its  way  along 
alternate  bluffs  and  narrow  strips  of  flat  low  lands.  Below  Big 
Brokenstraw  Creek  the  hills  converge  on  the  river  banks  and  follow 
the  stream  quite  closely  as  far  as  Bed  Bank  Creek,  leaving  only  occa- 
sionally any  regular  bottom  lands.  At  Tionesta  the  stream  broadens 
to  twice  its  previous  width  as  it  swings  toward  the  west.  There  are 
many  islands  in  the  river  above  Tionesta,  as  a  rule  wooded  but  some- 
times cleared  for  farming.  The  total  population  of  this  section  of 
the  Allegheny  River  basin  is  7,000,  divided  as  follows:  urban,  2,150; 
rural,  4,850.  The  only  tannery  along  this  stretch  is  situated  on  the 
river  at  Hickory  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Forest  County.  Tidioute 
is  the  only  town  having  a  population  of  over  1,000. 


93 


The  tributary  streams  have  been  stocked  with  trout  and  the  river 
with  yellow  perch,  pickerel,  pike  perch  and  bass. 

During  the  early  days  of  the  oil  excitement  keel  boats  and  rafts 
were  used  oh  this  portion  of  the  river  to  some  extent  for  the  trans- 
portation of  oil  in  barrels,  but  the  practice  was  expensive  and  un- 
certain and  with  increased  railroad  facilities  was  entirely  abandoned. 

Industrially  this  section  is  essentially  an  oil  producer,  though  farm- 
ing is  gradually  resuming  its  former  importance.  A  tract  of  virgin 
timber,  mainly  white  pine,  in  the  vicinity  of  Hickory  Creek  in  Forest 
County  is  a  very  valuable  asset,  being  probably  the  finest  of  the  few 
remaining  tracts  of  white  pine  in  the  State.  A  large  saw  mill  on 
'Hickory  Creek  is  working  up  this  timber. 

The  Pennsylvania  Railroad  follows  the  west  bank  of  the  river 
throughout  for  a  distance  of  about  thirty  miles,  the  only  other  rail- 
road being  the  Hickory  Valley  Railroad,  essentially  a  lumber  road, 
extending  eastward  up  Hickory  Creek  and  over  the  divide  to  the 
Tionesta  Valley,  where  it  joins  the  Tionesta  and  Sheffield  Road. 

There  are  two  public  water  supplies,  the  Tidioute  Water  Company 
supplying  Tidioute  with  water  from  Tidioute  Creek,  and  the  Tionesta 
Water  Supply  Company  supplying  Tionesta  witli  spring  water.  Botli 
systems  are  in  very  general  use.  So  far  as  known,. there  are  no  indus- 
trial supplies. 

A  discharge  measurement  of  the  Allegheny  River  at  Tionesta  above 
the  mouth  of  Tionesta. Creek  was  made  by  the  Water  Supply  Coin- 
mission  on  September  28th,  1908,  at  a  very  low  stage,  which  gave  a 
minimum  flow  of  374  cubic  feet  a  second.  The  tributary  watershed 
at  this  point  is  3,790  square  miles,  giving  a  minimum  discharge  of  ap- 
proximately one-tenth  second  feet  to  the  square  mile. 

Tionesta  and  Tidioute,  the  only  boroughs  and  the  only  towns  of 
importance,  both  have  sewer  systems  serving  in  all  about  295  persons. 
The  only  industrial  wastes  of  importance  appear  to  be  the  surface 
washings  and  waste  oil  coming  from  the  numerous  oil  wells. 

Tidioute  is  an  incorporated  borough  of  about  1,300  inhabitants, 
situated  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  and  extending  for  about  a  mile 
and  a  half  along  its  banks.  During  the  oil  excitement  it  was  mucli 
larger  and  an  important  centre;  but  for  many  years  its  population 
has  remained  practically  stationary.  Its  industries  comprise  ma- 
chine shops,  cutlery,  chair,  furniture,  and  hub  works.  While  wells 
and  springs  are  used  to  some  extent,  the  population  is  largely  fur- 
nished by  the  Tidioute  Water  Company,  deriving  its  supply  from  a 
wooded  and  practically  uninhabited  watershed  at  the  head  waters 
of  Tidioute  Creek  north  of  the  borough.  It  is  reported  that  there 
has  been  no  typhoid  fever  in  the  borough  in  twenty  years  except  a 
few  imported  cases.     There  are  a  few  small,  public  sewers,  and  a 

94 


number  of  private  ones,  serving  perhaps  170  persons.  There  are  many 
privies  and  a  few  cesspools,  and  kitchen  waste  is  generally  discharged 
upon  the  ground.     There  are  no  manufactural  wastes  of  importance. 

Tionesta,  with  a  population  of  850,  the  county  seat  and  only  bor- 
ough in  Forest  County,  is  situated  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  at 
the  mouth  of  Tionesta  Creek,  mainly  on  the  low  lands.  Water  is 
furnished  by  the  Tionesta  Water  Supply  Company,  from  three  springs 
of  excellent  quality.  The  system  is  in  very  general  use.  It  comprises 
a  storage  reservoir  of  about  00,000  gallons  capacity,  and  a  distribut- 
ing reservoir  on  the  brow  of  the  hill  within  the  borough  limits.  A 
few  wells  are  in  use.  In  1906  there  were  nine  cases  of  typhoid  fever 
said  to  have  been  imported.  Tionesta  has  a  x^ublic  sanitary  sewer 
system  aggregating  about  12,700  feet,  (six  inch  and  four  inch  pipe) 
and  two  twenty-four  inch  storm  sewers  900  feet  in  total  length.  Pub- 
lic sewer  outlets  are  eleven  in  number  and,  with  some  six  private 
sewer  outlets,  discharge  either  into  the  river  or  Tionesta  Creek,  chiefly 
the  former,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  population  is  served  thereby. 
The  industries  consist  of  a  casket  hardware  plant,  tank  factory,  and 
a  planing  and  two  grist  mills.  There  are  no  manufactural  wastes  of 
importance. 

(b)  Brokenstraw  Creek  Drainage  Area.  Big  Brokenstraw  Creek 
rises  in  the  southwestern  part  of  Chautauqua  County,  New  York,  on 
a  high  plateau  and  flows  in  a  southwesterly  direction  across  the  Penn- 
sylvania State  line  into  Erie  County,  one  mile  west  of  the  northwest 
boundary  of  Warren  County.  The  stream  here  takes  a  general 
southerly  direction  into  Warren  County,  passing  through  Columbus 
borough  and  then  turns  southeast  to  Garland,  where  it  takes  the  form 
of  a  semi-circle  and  flows  northeast  for  about  eight  miles.  Here  it 
changes  its  course  and  flows  southeast  to  Irvinton,  where  it  enters 
the  Allegheny  Biver. 

The  headwaters  of  Big  Brokenstraw  rise  in  a  broad,  well-farmed  val- 
ley, the  rounded  hills  surrounding  it  being  covered  with  second  growth 
hard  woods  and  hemlock.  On  entering  Warren  County  the  creek 
flows  through  swamp  land  for  a  short  distance,  then  through  a  wooded 
country  with  few  farms  and  steep  slopes  to  the  south  west.  At  Spring 
Creek  the  country  is  rolling  and  the  valley  widens  until  at  Garland 
it  is  a  mile  wide.  From  here  to  Pittsfield  the  valley  continues  wide 
and  flat  but  below  Pittsfield  the  hills  are  more  wooded  and  steeper 
and  the  valley  narrows  to  a  quarter  of  a  mile  at  its  mouth.  Here 
the  creek  is  about  fifty  feet  wide  and  quite  swift. 

The  most  important  tributary  of  Big  Brokenstraw  Creek  is  Little 
Brokenstraw  Creek.  This  stream  has  its  source  in  numerous  rivulets 
rising  in  a  broad  tableland  in  Freehold  township,  Warren  County. 
It  flows  through  a  wide  valley  that  it  partly  farmed  but  contains 
much  waste  land  and  some  second  growth  hemlock.     At  its  mouth 


the  valley  is  about  a  mile  wide,  shallow  and  flat.  The  general  di- 
rection of  this  branch  is  southeast  from  its  source  to  the  confluence 
with  the  main  stream  at  Pittsfield  aboul  eight  miles  west  of  its  junc- 
tion with  the  Allegheny  River. 

Hare  Creek  pises  in  the  southwestern  part  of  Chautauqua  County, 
;nul  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Wayne  Township,  Erie  County, 
and  Hows  in  a  general  southeasterly  direction  through  the 
city  of  Corry  into  Warren  County,  joining  Big  Brokenstraw  Creek 
in  the  southwestern  pari  of  Warren  County  about  two  miles  from  the 
Erie  County  line.  This  creek  flows  through  a  broad,  flat  farming 
country  throughout  its  length. 

Big  Brokenstraw  Creek  is  an  important  feeder  of  the  Allegheny 
River.  It  has  a  very  persistent  flow  in  periods  of  drought  and  is 
perhaps  in  this  respect  the  most  remarkable  of  any  tributary  of  the 
Allegheny  River.  This  is  accounted  for  in  a  degree  by  the  abundant 
supply  of  perennial  springs  in  the  cool,  elevated  region  in  which  it 
rises.  This  stream  flows  through  a  fertile,  rolling,  farming  coun- 
try and  is  rather  sluggish  throughout  its  length.  A  gauging  of  this 
creek  taken  at  Trvinton  September  28th,  1908,  shows  the  minimum 
discharge  to  be  45.17  second  feet. 

The  broad  valley  of  this  stream  was  originally  covered  with  superb 
pine  groves  and  the  ready  facilities  for  rafting  early  attracted  the 
attention  of  lumbermen;  but  in  late  years  that  industry  has  fallen 
off  to  a  considerable  extent,  due  to  the  enormous  waste  in  cutting. 
In  1801  the  first  lumber  was  rafted  from  the  Big  Brokenstraw  to 
Pittsburgh  and  in  1805,  seasoned  lumber  was  rafted  to  New  Orleans. 
As  the  pines  disappeared  the  adaptability  of  the  easily-worked,  fertile 
soil  of  the  creek  bottom  and  the  smoothly  contoured  hills  to  the 
north  became  apparent  to  the  agriculturist  and  many  clearings  for 
cultivation  were  made.  Since  then  farming  interests  have  taken 
precedence  of  all  others  in  this  district. 

Good  building  stone  is  abundant  and  an  ample  supply  of  loose 
sandstone  blocks  can  be  found  upon  the  surface.  The  rock  most 
used  is  a  massive  coarse-grained  yellow  and  white  sandstone,  some- 
times stained  with  streaks  of  iron.  It  appears  soft  when  fresh  from 
the  ledge  but  hardens  upon  exposure  and  is  highly  desirable  if  care- 
fully selected  as  to  color  and  composition.  Just  north  of  the  junc- 
tion of  Spring  Creek  with  Big  Brokenstraw  large  morainal  deposits 
are  found.  Above  these  the  Brokenstraw  valley  is  very  broad  with 
evidences  of  its  once  having  been  a  lake  bottom.  Between  Spriug 
Creek  and  Garland  some  portions  of  the  Brokenstraw  valley  are  quite 
narrow  and  the  hillsides  steep  and  high. 

Big  Brokenstraw  Creek  drains  an  area  of  300  square  miles,  includ- 
ing all  of  the  northwestern  part  of  Warren  County.  At  Irvinton 
where  Brokenstraw  Creek  joins  the  Allegheny  River  the  distance  to 


96 


the  month  of  the  river  :il  Pittsburgh  is  L84  miles  and  to  the  source 
of  the  Allegheny,  124  miles.  This  creek  has  been  declared  ;i  public 
highway  from   its  mouth   to  the  New  York   State  line. 

Rainfall  records  at  Corry  have  been  kepi  regularly  for  seven  years 
and  cover  a  total  period  of  eight  years.  The  maximum  annual  preci- 
pitation in  inches  is  65.66,  minimum  30.43,  and  mean  for  the  total 
period  46.48. 

The  total  population  of  the  basin  is  18,950,  divided  as  follows: 

New  York.     Pennsylvania. 

Urban, 380  9,400 

Eural,   1,930  7,240 

The  rural  population  is  approximately  thirty  to  the  square  mile. 

There  are  two  tanneries  on  this  basin,  one  on  Hare  Creek  adjoin- 
ing the  city  of  Corry,  and  the  other  on  Big  Brokenstraw  Creek  at 
Spring  Creek.  The  only  towns  of  importance  on  the  shed  are  Corry 
with  a  population  of  7,500  and  Youngstown  with  a  population  of 
1,200.  These  are  both  growing  little  municipalities  with  good  rail- 
road facilities  which  with  other  inducements  have  brought  to  the 
boroughs,  numerous  planing  mills  and  manufacturing  plants. 

The  only  water  power  installation  noted  on  the  stream  or  its 
tributaries  is  at  Columbus  on  Big  Brokenstraw  Creek  where  55  H.  P. 
is  developed.  Farming  and  grazing  is  largely  practised  throughout 
the  watershed  and  the  principal  industrial  plants  are  the  furniture 
factories  at  Corry  and  the  tanneries  at  Corry  and  Spring  Creek,  the 
latter  plants  being  operated  by  J.  W.  &  A.  P.  Howard  &  Co.,  Ltd.. 
manufacturing  sole  leather. 

Branches  of  the  Erie,  Pennsylvania,  and  New  York  Central  Rail- 
roads pass  through  the  watershed.  The  Western  division  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania follows  the  main  stream  from  its  mouth  perhaps  two-thirds 
of  its  length  to  Corry.  The  total  length  of  railroad  in  this  territory 
if  about  sixty  miles.  The  creek  and  its  principal  tributaries  are  not 
used  for  public  water  supply  except  that  Hare  Creek  is  available  for 
emergency  purposes  above  Corry.  The  Howard  Tanneries  at  Corry 
and  Spring  Creek  use  creek  water  for  industrial  purposes. 

An  analysis  (August  17th,  1909),  of  the  water  of  Hare  Creek  at 
the  Howard  tannery  below  the  Corry  sewer  outlets  shows  sixty-three 
parts  alkalinity  in  a  million.  It  is  estimated  that  a  total  population 
of  7,690  contributes  sewage  either  directly  or  indirectly  to  the  waters 
of  Big  Brokenstraw  Creek.  The  only  industrial  wastes  of  especial 
importance  come  from  the  Howard  tanneries  at  Corry  and  Spring 
Creek.  These  wastes  amount  to  about  100,000  gallons  a  day  in  the 
Corry  tannery  and  50,000  gallons  a  day  in  the  Spring  Creek  tannery 
and  produce  a  marked  effect  on  the  quality  and  appearance  of  the 

97 


stream.     An  outbreak  of  anthrax  among  the  cuttle  drinking  of  its 

waters  and  the  nuisance  caused  by  the  noxious  odors  has  resulted  in 
r.  derive  from  the  State  Commissioner  of  Health  ordering  the  con- 
struction of  purification  works  for  the  treatment  of  these  wastes  aud 
a  plant  has  been  installed  for  this  purpose  at  the  Corry  tannery. 

Panama,  Chautauqua  County,  New  York,  is  an  incorporated  vil- 
lage with  a  population  of  380  situated  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the 
county  at  the  head  waters  of  Big-  Brokenstraw  Creek  about  5  miles 
north  of  the  State  boundary.  It  is  estimated  that -about  200  persons 
eon  tribute  sewage  to  the  waters  of  the  creek. 

Columbus,  Warren  County,  is  a  borough  with  a  population  of 
about  400  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  county  on  Big  Broken- 
straw  Creek  about  three  miles  from  the  western  boundary  at  Cony. 
The  industries  are  limited  to  a  creamery,  saw  mill,  and  flour  mill. 
The  water  supply  is  derived  from  private  dug  and  drilled  wells. 
There  is  no  sewerage  system  and  kitchen  waste  is  discharged  on  to 
the  ground.  It  is  estimated  that  about  100  persons  contribute  sewage 
pollution.    Water  power  installation  here  developes  55  H.  P. 

Corry,  population  7,500,  is  a  city  in  the  extreme  eastern  part  of 
Erie  County  on  the  divide  between  French  Creek  and  Big  Broken- 
straw  Creek,  its  drainage  being  principally  to  the  latter  stream.  Tt 
is  a  prosperous,  industrial  community  with  three  railroads,  the  Erie 
Railroad  and  the  Western  and  Chautauqua  divisions  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad.  There  are  some  thirty  industries,  the  most  important 
being  the  locomotive  works  of  the  Climax  Manufacturing  Company, 
the  U.  S.  Radiator  &  Boiler  Company,  the  Ajax  Iron  Works,  the 
Corry  Condensed  Milk  Company,  Corry  Chair  Company,  Mclnness 
Steel  Company,  and  the  U.  S.  Chair  Company,  A  large  tannery  of 
J.  W.  and  A.  P.  Howard  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  is  located  just  east  of  the  city 
in  Warren  County.  Public  water  is  supplied  by  the  Corry  Water 
Company  from  four  driven  wells  about  fifty  feet  in  depth,  and  an 
emergency  connection  to  Hare  Creek.  The  per  capita  consumption 
for  domestic  use  is  said  to  be  sixty  gallons  a  day.  The  city  has  a 
combined  sewer  system  aggregating  about  twelve  miles,  discharging 
into  Hare  Creek  by  way  of  a  forty-eight  inch  and  a  thirty-six  inch 
outlet.  On  September  15th,  1908,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  issued 
a  permit  to  the  city  of  Corry  for  the  construction  of  certain  sewers 
and  the  discharge  of  sewage  therefrom  into  Hare  Creek  and  requir- 
ing that  plans  for  a  comprehensive  sewerage  system  and  disposal 
works  be  prepared  and  submitted  to  the  Department.  The  wastes 
from  the  industrial  plants  in  the  city  are  not  of  special  importance, 
the  greatest  pollutions  being  the  sewage  from  the  city  and  the  wastes 
from  the  Howard  tannery.  The  Howard  tannery  has  a  capacity  of 
about  150  hides  a  day  using  both  green  and  dry  hides.  Extract  is 
used  in  the  tanning  process  and  lime  for  dehairing.     Sulphuric  and 

98 


acetic  acid  are  also  used,  the  spent  acids  being  neutralized  by  the 
waste  lime.  The  waste  liquors  amount  to  about  100,000  gallons  ;i  day, 
this  amount  being  discharged  in  ten  hours,  containing  hair,  fleshings 
manure,  lime  (slight),  and  a  trace  of  tannic  acid,  which  gives  the 
dark  color  to  the  effluent.  In  the  summer  of  1007  an  outbreak  of 
anthrax  among  cattle  drinking  the  waters  of  Hare  Creek  was  at- 
tributed to  the  tannery  waste  pollution.  The  Department  made  a 
special  investigation  resulting  in  an  order  to  the  tanning  company  to 
cease  the  pollution  of  the  stream  and  to  prepare  plans  for  purification 
works  for  the  treatment  of  the  tannery's  sewage  and  wastes.  Plans 
weie  approved  by  the  Commissioner  of  Health  on  September  16th, 
1908,  and  the  plant  has  been  constructed.  The  decree  of  September 
16th,  1908,  also  contained  the  requirement  that  the  wastes  from  the 
Spring  Creek  tannery  of  the  same  company  situated  a  few  miles  fur- 
ther down  the  stream  be  also  purified.  The  Spring  Creek  tannery 
uses  the  same  process  as  that  in  operation  at  Corry,  the  capacity  and 
the  wastes  being  about  one-half  as  great  and  similar  in  character. 

Bear  Lake,  Warren  County,  population  300,  is  a  borough  situated 
in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  county  at  the  New  York  State  boun- 
dary. The  springs  within  the  borough  form  the  head  waters  of  Little 
Brokenstraw  Creek.  No  industries  are  noted  and  there  is  no  public 
water  system,  the  domestic  supply  being  drawn  from  wells  and  four 
springs.  There  is  no  sewer  system,  the  only  sewers  being  small  drains 
carrying  kitchen  waste  to  the  highways  or  runs. 

Youngsville,  Warren  County,  is  a  borough  with  about  1,200  popu- 
lation situated  on  Big  Brokenstraw  Creek  about  three  miles  from  its 
mouth.  Its  industries  comprise  two  furniture  factories,  three  plau- 
ing  mills  and  two  brick  yards.  There  is  no  public  water  system,  the 
inhabitants  using  driven  wells,  of  which  there  are  about  300  in  the 
borough.  There  is  no  public  sewer  system  but  from  time  to  time 
private  sewers  have  been  built  ranging  in  size  from  six  to  ten  inches, 
having  a  total  length  of  6,000  feet,  discharging  sewage  from  about 
380  persons  to  the  creek.  There  are  also  in  use  about  250  earth  privy 
vaults  and  about  twenty  cesspools,  some  of  them  in  proximity  to 
wells  used  for  drinking  purposes.  A  permit  was  granted  by  the  Com- 
missioner of  Health  October  11th,  1906,  for  the  construction  of  a  ten- 
inch  sewer  discharging  into  the  creek  and  requiring  that  plans  for  a 
comprehensive  sewerage  system  and  disposal  works  be  prepared  and 
submitted. 

In  the  permit  issued  to  Corry  city  by  the  Commissioner  of  Health, 
March  14th,  1912,  approving  plans  for  a  comprehensive  system  of 
sewers  and  sewage  disposal  works,  the  following  discussion  of  the 
State's  policy  with  respect  to  the  pollution  of  the  waters  of  the 
Brokenstraw  Ci  eek  mav  be  found. 


99 


"Hare  Creek  is  notorious  as  a  badly  polluted  stream.  Not  only  is  the  discoloration 
noticeable  from  the  passenger  coaches  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  that  parallels 
the  stream  for  many  miles,  but  the  odors  are  apparent  to  passers  on  the  nearest  high- 
way, especially  in  the  summer  time.  The  principal  source  of  contamination  is  the 
tannery.  The  owners  "f  the  tannery  are  preparing  to  treat  the  waste  liquid  more 
thoroughly  than  is  now  accomplished  with  the  object  in  view  of  destroying  the 
anthrax  germs  found  existing  in  the  liquids  by  the  State  Department  of  Health, 
but  no  plan  is  proposed  so  far  as  the  Department  knows,  to  remove  all  the  color 
from  these  manufacturing  wastes.  In  consequence  of  the  high  color  of  the  waters 
of  Hare  ('reck,  the  ordinary  uses  of  the  stream  through  the  rural  district  have 
been  abandoned.  This  has  lessened  to  some  extent  the  danger  that  would  otherwise 
exist  by  the  discharge  of  the  city  sewage  into  the  same  stream.  Nowhere  along  the 
Brokenstraw  is  the  water  used  for  domestic  purposes  under  approval  by  the  Com- 
missioner of  Health.  To  the  contrary  warning  notices  have  been  posted  by  the 
Department  along  the  banks  of  the  creek  for  miles  and  owners  of  abutting  estates 
have  received  communications  directly  from  the  Commissioner  apprising  them  of 
the  dangers  in  the  situation.  ... 

"The  object  of  the  sewage  disposal  hereinbefore  described  is  to  minimize  the 
nuisance  in  Hare  Creek  so  far  as  the  city's  sewage  is  a  contributing  factor.  These 
works  are  not  calculated  to  render  the  waters  of  Hare  Creek  suitable  for  the 
ordinary  uses  of  which  the  riparian  owner  is  possessed  where  the  streams  flowing 
through  his  lands  are  unpolluted.  In  this  light  and  from  the  fact  that  mingled 
sewage  and  storm  water  is  to  flow  into  Hare  Creek  from  the  city's  sewers  according 
to  the  plans  submitted,  the  plans  are  worthy  of  adoption.  Furthermore,  the  local 
authorities  have  submitted  convincing  statements  relative  to  the  utter  inability 
on  the  part  of  Corry  city  to  expend  at  the  present  time  any  part  of  the  sum  requisite 
for  the  sewerage  improvements  offered  in  the  plans.  It  is  true  that  Corry  is  about 
the  smallest  city  in  Pennsylvania  and  one  in  which  very  liberal  expenditures  for  pub- 
lic improvements  have  been  made.  When  the  existing  combined  sewer  system  was 
built,  it  was  thought  to  be  in  accordance  with  the  most  up-to  date  plan.  The  treat- 
ment of  sewage  was  not  then  contemplated  or  required  in  Pennsylvania.  INotwith- 
standihg  this  situation  and  the  fact  that  the  municipal  borrowing  capacity  is 
practically  reached,  the  local  authorities  stand  ready  to  meet  the  requirements  of 
improved  sanitation  with  regard  to  disposal  of  sewage,  if  sufficient  time  be  given  in 
which  to  work  out  the  financial  problem.  There  are  a  succession  of  steps  possible 
in  progress  towards  an  ultimate  high  degree  of  purification  of  the  city's  sewage  to 
which  attention  has  been  directed  by  these  authorities. 

"The  first  step  might  be  to  divert  the  flow  from  the  existing  forty-eight  inch 
sewer  into  larger  settling  tanks  and  thence  through  the  sterilization  plant  to  the 
creek,  and  providing  for  the  construction  of  the  sludge  filter,  all  to  be  operated  by 
gravity.  This  would  entail  an  expense  for  construction  of  twenty  thousand  dollars. 
In  about  three  years  from  now  the  city  will  be  in  a   position   to  assume  this  ex- 

DGDSG 

"The  next  step  might  be  the  construction  of  storm  relief  as  outlined,  at  an  estimated 
cost  of  forty  thousand  dollars,  which  would  reduce  the  amount  of  sewage  to  be  treated 
at  the  plant  more  than  a  million  gallons  per  twenty-four  hours.  The  third  step 
might  be  the  construction  of  the  outfall  sewers  for  the  gravity  districts  as  explained, 
and  the  building  of  the  contact  beds.  The  outfall  sewers  would  invole  an  expenditure 
of  twenty-five  thousand  dollars  including  the  sewage  lift.  The  contact  beds,  are 
estimated  to  cost  thirtv  thousand  dollars.  It  may  be  that  when  the  time  comes  to 
consider  the  erection  of  the  filters  a  different  type  may  be  found  more  efficient 
and  economical,   or  necessary.  . 

The  citv  should  proceed  to  construct  all  lateral  extensions  from  now  on  as 
sanitary  sewers  only,  in  conformity  with  the  general  plans  and  with  the  object 
of  the  "ultimate  collection  in  a  sanitary  sewer  system  of  all  of  the  sewage  of  the 
citv  and  in  its  complete  purification  at  the  disposal  works.  Furthermore,  the 
city  should  acquire  at  once  the  land  at  the  site  proposed  for  sewage  disposal." 

The  permit  of  1906  issued  to  the  borough  of  Youngsville  contained 
the  following  discussion  of  the  State's  policy  relative  to  stream  pollu- 
tion for  the  lower  Brokenstraw  Creek  valley. 

"A  prominent  citizen  of  the  borough  has  recently  erected  a  primary,  an  inter- 
mediate and  a  high  school  building  and  presented  them  free  to  the  municipality 
aT  a  memorial,  rhese  building  are  on  the  east  side  at  the  corner  of  College  and 
Pntes  Streets  They  have  been  fitted  with  modern  plumbing  facilities  and  no 
other  method  of  disposing  of  the  sewage  than  by  a  sewer  has  been  contemplated  or 
provided  The  borough  purposes  to  construct  a  ten  inch  sewer  northerly  in 
WnrVs  Street  a  distance  of  twenty-three  hundred  feet  to  the  creek,  and  discharge 
said  sewage  therein  below  low  water  Manholes  are  to  be  provided  at  street  inter- 
actions at  changes  in  line  and  grade,  and  not  over  greater  distances  than  five 
hundred  feet  apart  It  is  intended  that  this  sewer  shall  be  one  of  the  submains 
nf  n  svstem  of  sewers  for  the  entire  borough  and  a  reconnoissnnce  survey  has  been 
made  by  the  engineer  for  this  purpose  which  has  been  used  as  a  basis  for  the 
design  of  the  proposed  sewer. 

100 


The  borough  of  Siverlv,  takes  a  portion  of  its  water  supply  from  *e  AUegheny 
River  and  Oil  City  huAn  emergency  intake  therein.  Emlenton  borough,  Parkera 
Landing and  Foxburg  are  reported  as  taking  their  water  supplies  from  the  Alle- 
gheny Kivei?  The  nearest  one  of  these  places  is  fifty-one  miles  below  Joungsvule. 
The  last  two  places  are  one  hundred  miles  below.  Only  considerations  oi  great  un- 
portanS  shouW  be  weighty  enough  to  admit  of  the  dtecharge  o  sewage  m  ;; 
Brokenstraw  Creek  under  the  circumstances.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  tin  i.o.ou.i 
authorities  Should  have  waited  until  the  school  buildings  are  ready  for  occupancy 
before  having  applied  for  permission  to  build  a  sewer;  but  this  is. explained  by  the 
fnct  that  the  authorities  were  not  aware  of  the  statutory  provisions.  Refusal. to 
grant •  temporary  permission  to  use  the  proposed  sewer  would  prevent  the  schools  ben,, 
opened  The  construction  of  loose  cesspools  would  pollute  the  wells  not  only  on  the 
Sol  oroper  y  but  in  the  entire  vicinity.  The  construction  of  a  water-tight 
masonry  vault  wou Id  entail  a  prohibitory  expense,  and  the  authorities  do  not  know 
how  &  could  dispose  of  the  liquids  when  they  should  be  pumped  out.  An  en- 
rollment of  three  hundred  and  fifty  students  is  anticipated. 

"Since  the  borough  of  Warren  at  present  discharges  its  sewage  mo  the  A  lcgheny 
Rive-  under  temporary  permission  by  the  State  Health  Commission  pending  the 
Separ "don  of  iZns  for  sewage  purification  works,  and  Oil  City  is  permitted  to  do 
fhl  same  it  would  appear  that  the  demand  on  the  score  of  public  health  may  permit 
the  temporary  discharge  of  the  proposed  sewer  in  Youngsvdle  into  Brokenstraw 
Creek." 

The  lower  branches  of  Brokenstraw  Creek  have  been  stocked  by 
the  State  Fish  Commission  with  bass  and  pickerel.  A  number  of 
the  tributaries  have  been  stocked  with  trout. 

(c)     Typhoid  Fever. 

TvDhoid  Fever  Cases  Reported  for  the  Section  of  the  Allegheny  Basin  from  Broken- 
straw  Creek  to  Tionesta  Creek,   1906—1912,   inclusive. 


Tionesta,  . 
Tidioute,  . . 
Columbus, 

Conj 

Hear  Lake, 
Youngsville, 


1S06. 

1907. 
0 

1908. 

1909. 

1910. 

1911. 

9 

1 

0 

0 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

2 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1 

1 

10 

3 

1 

1 

1 

0 

0 

0 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1 

9 

2 

Section  8.— Tionesta  Creek  to  Oil  Creek. 

(a)  Along  Allegheny  River.  From  the  mouth  of  Tionesta  Creek 
the  Allegheny  Kiver  flows  in  a  general  westerly  direction,  in  a  cir- 
cuitous course,  for  a  distance  of  twenty  miles  to  the  central  part  of 
Venango  County,  where  it  is  joined  by  Oil  Creek.  During  this  part 
of  its  course  the  river  flows  through  a  narrow  valley  bordered  with 
rocky  bluffs.  On  the  south  side  of  the  river  the  country  is  terraced 
and  farmed  and  on  the  north  bank  where  the  hills  are  less  steep  most 
of  the  slopes  are  farmed.  Over  this  part  of  its  course  the  average 
slope  of  the  river  is  three  feet  in  a  mile.  Pithole  Creek,  the  largest 
tributary,  drains  the  northeastern  part  of  Venango  Counts'  and  flows 
in  a  southerly  direction  joining  the  Allegheny  River  near  Oleopolis. 
This  stream  is  about  twenty  feet  wide  at  its  mouth  and  flows  through 
a  narrow  valley  bordered  by  steep  hills  which  are  frequently  broken 


101 


by.  ravines.  A  minimum  discharge  gauging  of  the  river  at  Tionesta 
on  September  L'Sth,  1908,  gave  374.65  second  feet.  The  total  popula- 
tion of  this  section  of  the  Allegheny  Basin  is  5,610,  divided  as  follows: 
urban,  2,100;  rural,  3,510.  Siverly,  the  largest  town,  has  1,400  popu- 
lation. 

The  tributaries  of  the  river  have  been  stocked  with  trout  and  the 
Allegheny  River  has  been  stocked  with  trout,  bass,  yellow  perch,  pick- 
erel, and  pike  perch. 

Industrial  activity  centres  primal  ily  around  gas  and  oil  production, 
nearly  the  entire  district  having  produced  heavily  at  one  time  or  an- 
other. Farming,  formerly  paramount,  was  little  practised  during  the 
oil  craze,  but  with  the  diminishing  supply  of  oil  is  again  becoming 
important.  The  lumber  industry  is  also  in  evidence  with  saw  mills 
at  Grandin,  Oleopolis,  and  near  Walnut  Bend.  There  are  many  sum- 
mer cottages  scattered  all  along  the  shores  and  bluffs  throughout  this 
stretch  of  the  river,  and  oil  well  derricks  are  found  on  every  hand. 
The  largest  industrial  plant  is  the  Imperial  Works  of  the  Oil  Well 
Supply  Company  at  Siverly,  employing  650  men  in  the  manufacture 
of  machinery  used  in  the  production  of  oil  and  gas.  The  only  railroad 
is  the  Pennsylvania,  which  follows  the  north  or  west  bank  of  the  river 
throughout  this  part  of  its  course,  about  twenty  miles. 

The  Pittsburgh  Testing  Laboratory  analyzed  samples  of  the  river 
water  at  Siverly  and  the  State  Department  of  Health  made  bacterio- 
logical tests  of  the  river  water  at  the  same  place. 

TABLE   XXXV.— Bacterial   and   Chemical   Analyses   of   River   Water   at   Siverly. 


Determination. 


S!li.->,    

Oxide    of    iron 

Car  mi" t"  of  lime 

Carbonate  of  magnesia, 

Sulphate   of    lime 

Sulphate  of  soda 

Sulphate    of    magnesia 

Chloride    of    soda,     

Nitrate   of   soda 

Inerusting    solids 

Non-inerusting   solids, 


Drilled  Well 
in  River. 


River 
Water. 


Parts    Per    Million. 


Aug.,  1907 


10.0 


241.1 
21.  S 
19.4 
3.6 
15 .  i; 
74.3 


Sept.,  1904. 


18.0 


41 

6.7 
14.6 

7.S 


Cl.l 


SO.  3 
6S.6 


102 


TABLE  XXXV.— Bacterial  and  Chemical  Analyses  of  Itiver  Water  at   Siverly.— 

Continued 


Date  of  Sample. 


Dec.  7,  1907, 

Jan.  7,  1908, 

Feb.  7,  I  DOS, 

May  7,  1908, 

Aug.  12,  1908, 

Mar.  4,  1909, 

May  6,  1909, 

June  10,  1909, 

July  9,  1909, 

Aug.  12,  1909, 


Bacteria  per  Cable 
Centimeter. 


Total. 

B.  Coll. 

1,000 

3 

1,600 

0 

45 

0 

700 

0 

300 

0 

350 

10 

250" 

5 

760 

0 

42 

1 

48 

0 

The  domestic  water  supply  of  Pleasantville  consists  of  private  wells 
and  springs  and  a  new  municipal  system  with  drilled  wells  as  the 
source.  Siverly  borough  is  supplied  with  water  by  the  Siverly  Water 
Company,  whose  plant  consists  of  a  so-called  "Filtration  well,"  sunk 
on  a  small  island  which  is  submerged  for  about  ten  months  each 
year,  a  pumping  station  in  the  power  house  of  the  Oil  Well  Supply 
Company,  and  a  distributing  system,  into  which  the  water  from  the 
well  is  pumped  and  served  to  the  consumers.  The  average  consump- 
tion is  said  to  be  200,000  gallons,  of  which  about  196,000  gallons  are 
used  for  industrial  purposes.  A  spring  also  furnishes  a  part  of  the 
water. 

One-fourth  of  the  population  of  Pleasantville  and  practically  all  of 
Siverly  contribute  domestic  sewage,  about  1,930  persons  polluting 
the  stream  in  this  way.  Aside  from  wastes  due  to  oil  production,  the 
most  important  industrial  pollution  is  at  Siverly,  where  the  Oil  Well 
Supply  Company  discharges,  it  is  said,  about  three  barrels  a  week  of 
spent  acid  solutions  from  the  galvanizing  plant  together  with  the  oil 
drip    from  engine  and  machinery. 

Pleasantville,  an  incorporated  borough  with  a  population  of  about 
700  is  situated  at  elevation  2,200  on  the  divide  between  Oil  Creek  and 
Pithole  Creek,  its  drainage  flowing  chiefly  to  the  latter  stream.  There 
are  no  industrial  plants  of  importance,  the  chief  interests  being  gas 
and  oil  and  farming.  Water  for  domestic  purposes  is  obtained  from 
about  a  hundred  wells  and  eight  or  ten  springs,  all  private.  Of  these 
perhaps  forty  are  dug  wells.  Eecently  the  borough  officials  have  in- 
stalled a  public  system  deriving  water  from  three  driven  wells.  There 
are  a  few  public  sewers  but  only  a  dozen  or  so  buildings  are  con- 
nected with  them,  privies  and  cesspools  being  in  general  use.-  The  ex- 
tensive use  of  private  dug  wells  in  the  vicinity  of  privies  is  a  con- 
dition which  menaces  the  health  of  the  inhabitants,  and  there  have 
been  a  few  cases  of  typhoid  fever  from  year  to  year;  but  the  sanitary 
conditions  would  indicate  that  the  borough  has  been  fortunate  in  this 
tespect.  There  are  no  manufactural  wastes  contributed  by  this  bor- 
ough. 

103 


On  February  13th3  1012,  the  Commissioner  of  ITealth  approved 
plans  and  specifications  for  sewage  disposal  works  for  Pleasantville. 
The  system  was  built  and  in  accordance  with  modified  plans  approved 
May  20th,  1012.  and  at  the  end  of  the  year  1912  the  works  were  in 
operation. 

The  borough  of  Siverly,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Allegheny  River 
adjoining  Oil  City,  has  a  population  of  about  1,400  with  the  resident 
portion  on  the  bluff  and  the  business  part  on  the  lowlands  along  the 
river.  The  manufacturing  interests  comprise  a  celluloid  works  and 
the  Imperial  Plant  of  the  Oil  Well  Supply  Company,  the  latter  being 
the  dominant  industry  of  the  borough,  with  650  employees  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  gas  and  oil  well  tools  and  machinery. 
The  water  supply  is  furnished  by  the  Kramer  Water  Company  and 
the  Siverly  Water  Company.  The  former  derives  its  supply  from  a 
spring  in  the  rocks  on  the  hillside,  and  the  Siverly  Water  Company, 
which  is  controlled  by  the  Oil  Well  Supply  Company,  takes  its  sup- 
ply from  a  well  sunk  in  Elkhorn  Island  in  the  river.  This  island  is 
low  and  said  to  be  submerged  for  about  ten  months  every  year.  The 
water  of  the  river  percolates  through  the  sand  and  gravel  soil  into  a 
perforated  tile  drain  leading  to  the  well  and  directly  into  the  well 
itself.  It  is  reported  that  about  nine-tenths  of  the  inhabitants  use 
the  water  from  this  source.  There  are  also  a  number  of  dug  wells 
and  some  springs  in  use.  Oil  City  maintains  an  emergency  intake 
from  the  river  on  the  opposite  side  from  Siverly.  There  is  no  public- 
sewer  system,  the  sewage  of  the  borough  being  disposed  of  principally 
in  common  privy  vaults  and  cesspools,  but  there  are  some  ten  private 
t-ewers  discharging  sewage  into  several  runs  and  the  river  within  the 
limits  of  the  borough.  Six  of  these  are  small,  ranging  from  four  to 
eight  inches  in  diameter.  Four  serve  the  works  of  the  Oil  Well  Sup- 
ply Company  and  range  in  diameter  from  ten  to  eighteen  inches.  A 
comprehensive  plan  for  separate  sewerage  system  is  under  considera- 
tion by  the  borough  officials,  contemplating  ultimate  disposal  of 
sewage  either  separately  or  in  conjunction  with  Oil  City  and  West 
End  borough.  The  only  manufactural  wastes  of  importance  consist 
of  about  fifteen  gallons  a  day  of  spent  acids  from  the  galvanizing  plant 
of  the  Oil  Well  Supply  Company. 

In  a  decree  relative  to  sewerage  issued  by  the  Commissioner  of 
Health  to  the  borough  of  Pleasantville  in  May,  1910,  the  following 
discussion  of  the  State's  policy  in  that  vicinity  may  be  found: 

"Pithole#Creek  receives  some  sewage  from  individual  houses  and  considerable 
pollution  from  oil  well  operations.  The  stream  is  nowhere  in  its  course  used  as  a 
source  of  public  water  supply.  There  is  no  town  or  village  along  its  course  but  a 
settlement  known  as  Pithole  City  where  twenty  five  people  live.  This  is  one  of 
the  streams  of  the  Commonwealth  not  now  polluted  with  sewage  and  there  seems 
to  be  no  reason  why  sewage  should  be  discharged  into  it,  especially  since  it 
is  the  policy  of  the  Commonwealth  to  preserve  the  purity  of  the  waters  of  the 
State.  Running  water  has  been  introduced  into  the  houses  and  becomes  soiled 
by  the  wastes  of  the  household  and  if  the  individual  householder  will  be  prudent 
in  the  use  of  water,  the  collection  and  disposal  of  it  on  his  own  estate  may  prove 

104 


the  most  economical  and  wil.li  proper  attention  a  sanitary  expedient.  To  build  the 
sewers  proposed  in  Pleasantville  will  cost  a  considerable  sum  of  money.  If  tin- 
contributors  are  willing  to  erect  a  sewage  disposal  plant  in  connection  with  the 
sewers  then  the  improvements  should  go  on,  but  if  the  money  is  not.  forthcoming 
for  the  immediate  erection  of  the  purification  plant  then  the  sewer  construction 
should  not  be  undertaken. 

"Some  one  experienced  in  the  treatment  of  sewage  should  be  employed  to  devise 
the  plans  for  the  plant.  The  Department  will  be  glad  to  consult  with  the  local 
authorities  relative  to  this  subject.  The  site  proposed  for  the  sewage  works  seems 
to  be  favorable,  but  whether  it  is  the  most  economical  one  from  all  standpoints 
the  Department  is  not  ready  to  say  at  this  time." 

(b)  Tionesta  Creek  Drainage  Area.  The  headwaters  of  Tionesta 
Creek  lie  in  three  branches  in  the  southeastern  portion  0f  Warren 
County,  the  southern  central  part  of  McKean  County,  and  the  north- 
western corner  of  Elk  County.  The  main  branch  rises  in  southeastern 
Warren  County  and  flows  northeast  to  Clarendon  where  it  bends  in 
an  easy  curve  and  flows  southeast  to  Sheffield,  where  Two  Mile  Kun 
joins  it  coming  from  the  east.  About  two  miles  below  this  junction 
the  East  Branch  joins  the  main  stream,  flowing  in  a  southwesterly  di- 
rection. From  this  junction  the  creek  flows  in  an  irregular  course 
in  a  southerly  direction  and  enters  Forest  County  near  its  northeast 
corner.  From  this  point  the  creek  takes  a  general  westerly  direction 
through  Howe  Township,  then  turns  and  flows  southwest  through 
Kingsley  and  Green  Townships  and  enters  Tionesta  Township,  where 
it  takes  a  general  westerly  direction  to  its  confluence  with  the  Alle- 
gheny Eiver  at  Tionesta  borough  in  the  southwestern  part  of  Forest 
County. 

The  Tionesta  Creek  flows  through  a  broad,  deep  valley,  joined 
by  numerous  steep  tributary  ravines.  Its  whole  course  is  a  very 
winding  one  and  the  highlands  through  which  it  flows  are  deeply 
carved.  The  tributaries  of  this  stream  flow  swiftly  to  the  narrow  and 
more  gently  sloping  valley  of  the  Tionesta  and  drain  a  section  con- 
taining many  oil  and  gas  wells. 

The  headwaters  of  the  East  Branch  of  Tionesta  Creek  rise  in  roll- 
ing hills  and  the  country  through  which  they  flow  is  largely  covered 
with  a  second  growth  of  timber.  Two  Mile  Bun  flows  through  a  nar- 
row valley.  The  hills  on  either  side  are  steep  and  covered  with  a  poor 
second  growth  while  the  country  back  from  the  hills  is,  to  a  great 
extent,  a  barren  waste  land.  The  creek  above  Ludlow  is  clear  but 
below  it  is  black,  due  to  tannery  wastes  from  Ludlow.  Salmon  Creek 
rises  in  the  eastern  part  of  Forest  County,  flows  in  a  southwesterly 
direction  for  a  few  miles,  then  turns  to  the  northwest  and  joins  the 
Tionesta  Creek  about  three  miles  below  Kellettville.  This  is  a  wind- 
ing stream  that  flows  through  a  barren  waste  country. 

Near  the  headwaters  of  the  Tionesta  a  high  grade  oil  is  found  in 
the  extensive  Stoneham-Clarendon  field.  At  Clarendon  the  valley  is 
about  one-half  mile  wide  and  consists  of  flat,  swampy  waste  lands 


105 


covered  with  a  scrub  growth,  but  further  down  the  stream  the  soil 
improves,  good  farms  are  numerous  in  the  valley  and  the  hills  are 
wooded.  Along  the  divide  between  the  Tionesta  Creek  and  Clarion 
River  the  country  presents  a  wide  waste;  most  of  it  has  been  cleared 
of  timber  and  very  few  farms  are  located  here.  In  the  eastern  part 
of  Forest  County  on  t  lie  east  slope  of  the  Tionesta  valley  between 
Cloughs  and  Watson  there  is  a  large  tract  of  virgin  hemlock  but  the 
country  surrounding  this  tract  has  been  cleared  of  timber  and  is  at 
present  a  waste  and  barren  land.  Between  Tionesta  and  Nebraska  the 
valley  is  extremely  narrow,  affording  many  good  sites  for  the  develop- 
ment of  water  power.  The  Tionesta  Creek  has  been  used  extensively 
for  logging  and  the  whole  creek  has  been  declared  a  public  highway. 
The  point  of  confluence  of  the  Tionesta  and  the  Allegheny  River  is 
midway  between  the  source  and  the  mouth  of  the  Allegheny  Eiver. 

The  Tionesta  Creek  drains  an  area  of  458  square  miles,  including 
nearly  all  of  Forest  County  and  parts  of  McKean,  Warren  and  Elk 
Counties.  This  stream  is  badly  polluted  by  tannery  wastes  from 
three  tanneries  at  Sheffield,  and  by  one  each  at  Brookston,  Ludlow, 
Clarendon  and  Kellettville. 

A  gauging  of  this  creek  taken  at  Tionesta  on  September  28th,  1908, 
showed  the  minimum  discharge  to  be  39.7  second  feet.  The  mean  an- 
nual rainfall  in  this  region  is  between  40  and  45  inches. 

The  total  population  of  the  basin  is  11,660,  divided  into  the  follow- 
ing proportions:  urban,  4,200;  rural,  7,460.  The  total  rural  popula 
tion  is  approximately  sixteen  to  the  square  mile. 

There  are  but  two  towns  in  the  basin  with  a  population  of  over 
1,000,  namely,  Sheffield,  2,500  and  Clarendon,  1,100.  The  principal 
industry  of  both  towns  is  tanning.  In  Sheffield  there  are  two  tan- 
neries and  one  directly  above  the  town  on  Two  Mile  Creek.  There 
is  some  lumbering  done  near  by  and  a  glass  plant  in  the  village 
employs  the  inhabitants  not  engaged  in  tanning. 

There  is  a  50  H.  P.  water  power  development  at  Nebraska,  Forest 
County,  on  Tionesta  Creek  about  six  miles  from  its  mouth  and  also 
a  small  development  near  the  mouth  of  the  stream  at  Tionesta. 

The  watershed  of  Tionesta  Creek  is  well  timbered  and  lumber 
operations  are  extensively  carried  on,  the  abundance  of  timber  being 
also  responsible  for  the  establishment  of  numerous  tanneries  and 
chemical  plants.  The  principal  industrial  plants  are  tanneries  of  the 
Elk  Tanning  Company  at  Clarendon,  Sheffield,  Brookston,  and  Kel- 
lettville, and  the  J.  G.  Curtis  Leather  Company  tannery  at  Ludlow. 
Chemical  plants  for  the  manufacture  of  wood  alcohol  are  the  Wet- 
more  Chemical  Company  at  Wetmore,  the  Nansen  Chemical  Company 
at  Nansen,  and  a  plant  at  Roy  stone. 


106 


The  Sheffield  Glass  Bottle  Company  operates  a  glass  plant  at  Shef- 
field and  the  American  Plate  Glass  Company  has  a  plant  at:  James 
City.  At  Clarendon  are  the  Levi  Smith  Oil  Refinery,  the  John  Coal 
Refinery  and  another  oil  refinery,  and  there  is  a  refinery  ;il  Tiona. 

Railroads  traverse  the  watershed  in  all  directions;  hut  they  are 
mostly  narrow  gauge  lumber  roads.  The  Sheffield  &  Tionesta  and 
the  Tionesta  Valley  roads  follow  the  creek  throughout  the  greater 
portion  of  its  length.  The  Western  division  of  the  Pennsylvania 
crosses  the  basin  near  its  head  waters,  and  a  branch  of  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  follows  the  crest  of  the  divide  on  the  south  for  a  distance 
of  forty-six  miles.  The  total  trackage,  including  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  on  the  divide,  is  about  165  miles. 

At  Clarendon,  water  for  domestic  uses  is  derived  from  wells  and 
springs  and  an  industrial  supply  for  the  Elk  Tannery  is  taken  from 
Tionesta  Creek.  At  Sheffield  the  public  water  supply  is  derived  from 
wells  and  springs  and  chiefly  from  Deer  Lick  Creek,  the  three  tan- 
neries and  a  glass  plant  having  private  industrial  supplies  from  Tion- 
esta Creek.  The  tanneries  at  Kellettville  and  Brookston  each  have 
industrial  supplies,  the  former  from  Tionesta  Creek  and  the  latter 
from  Bogus  Run,  wells  aud  springs.  Domestic  sewage  is  contributed 
either  directly  or  indirectly  to  Tionesta  Creek  by  an  urban  popula- 
tion of  about  2,700.  The  industrial  wastes  discharged  into  the  creek 
are  very  extensive,  the  most  important  coming  from  the  tanneries 
and  chemical  plants,  the  character  of  which  wastes  has  been  dis- 
cussed elsewhere.  The  waste  waters  discharged  from  the  tanneries 
is  estimated  to  be  about  217,650  gallons  a  day.  The  chemical  plant 
pollutions  are  extensive  and  the  wastes  from  the  oil  refineries  form  a 
polluting  factor  of  importance. 

Clarendon,  Warren  County,  is  a  borough  with  a  population  of  1,100 
situated  on  Tionesta  Creek  about  nine  miles  from  its  head  waters.  Its 
industries  include  three  oil  refineries,  the  Levi  Smith  Refinery,  the 
John  Goal  Refinery  and  another,  a  tannery  of  the  Elk  Tanning  Com- 
pany and  a  lumber  mill.  Oil  is  also  largely  produced  in  the  vicinity. 
A.  private  company  supplies  water  to  the  public,  deriving  its  supply 
from  a  drilled  well  171  feet  deep  within  the  borough.  A  reserve  sup- 
ply for  fire  purposes  is  derived  from  a  spring  on  the  mountain  side 
near  by.  The  Elk  Tannery  derives  a  private  supply  for  industrial 
purposes  from  springs  and  from  Tionesta  Creek.  A  portion  of  the 
borough  is  served  by  public  sewers,  and  there  are  also  a  number 
of  private  sewers  in  use  discharging  to  the  creek  or  to  runs  or  a  pond 
tributary  to  the  creek  and  in  some  cases  to  the  highways.  Kitchen 
wastes  generally  are  discharged  on  the  ground  or  into  the  highway. 
The  Levi  Smith  refinery  employs  from  fifteen  to  twenty  men,  handling 
about  8,000  barrels  crude  oil  each  month.  The  wastes,  which  contain 
sulphuric  acid,  pass  through  a  swamp  some  distance  to  Tionesta 


107 


Creek.  A  small  pond  within  the  borough  has  become  a  nuisance  by 
reason  of  the  discharge  of  refinery  wastes.  The  Elk  Tannery  wastes 
consist  of  water  from  hide  soaking,  lime  water,  and  bleach  water. 
The  waste  tan  liquors  are  shipped  to  Sheffield  and  Ridgway  and 
reclaimed. 

Sheffield  Village,  Warren  County,  population  about  2,500  is  situ- 
ated in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  county  on  Tionesta  Creek.  Its 
dominant  industry  is  tanning,  there  being  three  tanneries,  the  "Hor- 
ton,"  the  "Tionesta"  and  the  "Sheffield,''  all  belonging  to  the  Elk  Tan- 
ning Company,  as  well  as  the  Sheffield  Extract  Works  of  the  same 
company.  There  is  also  a  plant  of  the  Sheffield  Glass  Bottle  Com- 
pany near  bjr  and  a  large  saw  mill  of  the  Central  Pennsylvania  Lum- 
ber Company.  The  tanneries  employ  the  greater  part  of  the  popula- 
tion. The  glass  works  have  from  100  to  125  employees  and  turn 
out  about  three  carloads  of  glass  bottles  a  week.  The  saw  mill  is 
a  new  plant  which  will  give  employment  to  a  large  number  of  men. 
Water  is  supplied  to  the  public  and  to  a  considerable  extent  for  in- 
dustrial purposes  by  the  Sheffield  Water  Company,  formerly  known 
as  the  Deer  Lick  Water  Company,  whose  supply  is  derived  from  Deer 
Lick  Eun  and  from  drilled  wells.  This  company  supplies  about  two- 
thirds  of  the  population.  The  Elk  Tanning  Company  supplies  a  num- 
ber of  its  own  houses  with  water  from  wells  and  springs.  Formerly 
the  tanneries  used  the  Sheffield  Water  Company;s  supply  for  indus- 
trial purposes  resulting  in  an  occasional  shortage  of  water  for  domes- 
tic use,  but  this  use  has  been  discontinued  and  the  supply  seems  ade- 
quate. The  tanneries  are  supplied  for  industrial  purposes  with 
water  from  a  private  system  of  driven  wells  on  Tionesta  Creek.  The 
glass  works  also  has  an  industrial  supply  taken  from  the  creek.  It 
is  estimated  that  about  three-fifths  of  the  population  contribute  sew- 
age pollution,  chiefly  by  way  of  numerous  private  sewers,  although 
there  is  no  public  sewer  system.  There  are  no  liquid  wastes  from  the 
glass  works  or  the  extract  works,  but  the  tanneries  discharge  into 
the  creek  a  large  amount  of  objectionable  waste  water. 

Ludlow,  McKean  County,  is  a  village  of  600  population  situated  on 
the  boundary  between  Warren  and  McKean  Counties  on  a  tributary 
of  Tionesta  Creek.  Industrially  it  depends  upon  the  J.  G.  Curtis 
Leather  Company's  tannery  which  handles  800  green  salt  hides  daily. 
Both  extract  and  bark  are  used  in  the  tanning  process  and  lime  is 
used  for  dehairing.  Sulphuric  acid  and  acetic  acid  are  used  at  this 
plant. 

Brookston,  Forest  County,  population  500,  is  a  village  in  the  ex- 
treme northeastern  part  of  the  county  on  the  south  branch  of  Tion- 
esta Creek.  Industrially  it  is  dependent  upon  a  tannery  of  the  Elk 
Tanning  Company. 


108 


Waste  tan  liquors  are  reclaimed.  The  tanning  company  derives 
an  industrial  supply  of  water  from  Bogus  Run  and  wells  and  springs. 

Kellettvile,  Forest  County,  population  000,  is  situated  in  the  central 
part  of  the  county  on  Tionesta  Creek.  The  village  is  dependent  in- 
dustrially upon  the  Elk  Tanning  Company's  tannery,  which  derives  an 
industrial  supply  from  Tionesta  Creek. 

(c)  Typhoid  Fever.  In  the  following  table  are  given  the  number 
of  typhoid  fever  cases  reported  to  the  State  Department  of  Bealth 
by  the  local  authorities  of  several  important  places  in  the  section 
lor  the  years  1906-1912,  inclusive. 


Typhoid  Fever  Gases  Reported  for  the  Section  of  the  Allegheny  Basin  from  Tionesta 
Creek  to  Oil  Greek,  1906-1912,  inclusive. 


Clarendon,     . 
Ludlow, 
Pleasantville 
Siverly 


190S. 

190V. 

1908. 

1909. 

1910. 

1911. 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

2 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

Oi 

0 

4 

1 

1 

0 

0 

2 

1 

2 

0 

0 

Section  9. — Oil  Greek  to  French  Greek. 

(a)  Along  Allegheny  River.  From  Oil  Creek  the  Allegheny  River 
flows  in  a  southwesterly  direction  for  a  distance  of  eight  miles  to 
Franklin  City  where  it  is  joined  by  French  Creek.  The  valley  is 
about  one  mile  wide,  bordered  by  steep  wooded  banks  and  narrow 
ravines.  Occasional  farms  are  found  on  the  gentle  slopes  where  the 
country  has  been  cleared  of  timber.  Both  the  banks  and  the  bed 
of  the  river  are  firm,  though  not  generally  rock.  Below  Oil  City, 
heavy  ice  gorges  are  frequent,  due  to  cold  winters,  rapid  current, 
sudden  floods  and  the  number  of  its  short  bends.  The  slopie  of  the 
river  during  this  part  of  its  course  is  three  feet  to  the  mile.  Numer- 
ous oil  derricks  are  scattered  along  its  banks  and  at  Reno  are  ex- 
tensive oil  works.  The  total  population  of  this  section  is  17,980, 
divided  as  follows:  urban,  15,500;  rural,  2,480.  Oil  City,  popula- 
tion 15,000,  is  the  only  town  of  any  considerable  size  on  this  section. 

The  Allegheny  River  has  been  stocked  by  the  Fish  Commission  with 
bass,  yellow  perch,  pickerel,  and  pike  perch. 

With  the  discovery  of  oil  the  river  from  Oil  City  to  Pittsburgh 
at  once  became  a  scene  of  intense  activity.  Keel  boats  and  rafts 
and  at  times  steamboats  were  used  to  carry  the  oil  in  barrels, 
and  this  continued  for  a  number  of  years  until  the  extension  of  rail- 
road facilities  provided  a  safer  outlet.     Some  of  the  earlier  stearn- 


8 


109 


boats  plied  the  river  as  far  up  as  Oil  City,  but  the  course  was  always 
somewhat  dangerous  and  at  times  of  low  water  quite  impracticable. 
Numerous  projects  have  been  considered  at  various  times  for  render- 
ing the  river  navigable  as  far  up  as  Oil  City,  and  several  surveys  have 
been  made  by  the  United  States  government  with  this  end  in  view, 
and  it  is  .probable  that  the  improvements  now  being  carried  on  fur- 
ther down  may  ultimately  be  extended  to  this  point. 

Industrially  this  division  is  of  great  importance,  identified  as  it 
is  with  the  great  oil  industry  centring  largely  in  and  around  Oil 
City.  Petroleum,  its  production  and  refinement,  and  the  manufac- 
ture of  appliances  connected  therewith  predominate.  There  are 
four  large  oil  refineries  at  Oil  City  and  the  Confer  Oil  Refineries  at 
Reno  about  four  miles  down  stream  are  very  extensive. 

Three  lines  of  railroad  parallel  the  river,  branches  of  the  Erie  and 
the  Lake  Shore  and  Michigan  Southern  on  the  west  side,  and  the 
Allegheny  Division  of  the  Pennsylvania  on  the  east.  These  roads 
aggregate  about  twenty-five  miles  in  all.  There  is  also  trolley  ser- 
vice paralleling  the  railroads  and  extending  from  Oil  City  to  Frank- 
lin. 

The  public  water  supplies  in  this  division  are  those  of  Oil  City 
and  West  End.  At  Oil  City  the  supply  is  derived  from  driven  wells 
along  the  river  above  the  city  to  which  the  water  percolates  through 
a  gravel  stratum,  probably  coming  from  the  river.  An  emergency 
crib  intake  is  also  maintained,  the  water  works  system  being  owned 
by  the  city.  West  End  is  supplied  by  the  West  End  Water  Com- 
pany with  water  from  three  springs  and  three  drilled  wells.  In- 
dustrial suppilies  are  obtained  from  the  river  and  from  Oil  Creek  by 
a  number  of  the  larger  plants  at  Oil  City  and  by  the  Kramer  Wagon 
Company  at  West  End.  Direct  sewage  pollution  of  the  stream  in 
this  division  is  estimated  to  consist  of  the  domestic  wastes  from 
10,375  persons,  10,000  in  Oil  City,  125  in  West  End  and  250  rural. 
The  four  oil.  refineries  of  Oil  City  and  the  large  plant  at  Reno  con- 
tribute a  considerable  amount  of  industrial  pollution. 
"  Oil  City  is  an  incorporated  municipality  of  about  15,000  inhabit- 
ants situated  at  the  junction  of  Oil  Creek  with  the  Allegheny  River, 
the  municipal  territory  being  divided  by  these  streams  into  three  dis- 
tinct districts.  On  either  side  of  these  streams  are  very  steep  and 
high  hills  with  a  narrow  flat  extending  up  Oil  Creek  valley  and  oc- 
cupied by  the  business  section.  With  the  exception  of  these  flats 
which  are  fifteen  feet  above  the  ordinary  stage  of  the  water,  Oil  City 
is  a  hillside  community  with  residences  extending  up  the  bluffs  on 
all  sides.  Its  industries  include  four  oil  refineries,  the  Crystal,  Conti- 
nental, Independent  and  the  Penn,  as  well  as  barrel  works,  boiler 
shops,  plants  for  the  manufacture  of  machinery,  paimps,  engines,  oil 
well  supplies,  wagons  and  brooms,  a.  foundry,  wood-working  shops, 
railroad  shops,  and  three  flour  mills. 

110 


The  city  owns  and  operates  a  water  works  system,  the  source 
of  supply  being  driven  wells  located  along  the  luniks  of  the  river 
above  the  city.  These  wells  extend  about  twenty-five  feel  below  the 
river  bed  and  probably  draw  water  from  the  river  indirectly  through 
a  stratum  of  gravel.  The  water  shows  up  favorably  on  analysis  and 
appears  clear  and  good  so  far  as  the  senses  can  detect.  Prom  these 
wells  the  water  flows  by  gravity  to  the  pump  station.  There  is  also 
a  twenty-four  inch  suction  pipe  from  the  intake  crib  in  the  river  to 
the  pumpiing  station  whereby  an  emergency  supply  of  raw  river 
water  may  be  and  occasionally  is  obtained.  Many  of  the  industries, 
including  railroads,  derive  industrial  supplies  from  the  river  Or  creek 
and  employees  frequently  use  this  water  for  drinking  purposes.  This 
condition,  doubtless,  has  a  material  effect  upon  the  prevalence  of 
typhoid.  The  figures  given  below  indicate  the  number  of  cases  for 
twelve  years  prior  to  1906,  when  State  registration  began. 

Cases. 


1894, 
1895, 
1896, 
1897, 
1898, 
1899, 


Cases. 

49 

1900, 

199 

1901, 

51 

1902, 

37 

1903, 

? 

1904, 

73 

1905, 

63 

16 

50 
16 


The  sewers  of  Oil  City  are  mainly  combined  storm  and  sanitary, 
serving  about  two-thirds  of  the  population  and  discharging  by  way 
of  numerous  outlets  into  the  river  and  into  the  creek.  In  1906  the 
city  authorities,  at  the  suggestion  of  the  Commissioner  of  Health, 
modified  the  design  of  sewers  in  the  Eight  Ward  then  under  con- 
sideration as  a  combined  system  and,  under  a  permit  issued  by  the 
Commissioner  of  Health  on  June  20th,  1906,  completed  the  system 
by  the  construction  of  both  sanitary  sewers  and  storm  drains.  This 
permit  allowed  the  discharge  of  sewage  into  Oil  Creek  until  July  1st, 
1908,  on  or  before  which  date  plans  for  a  comprehensive  system,  in- 
cluding treatment  of  all  the  sewage  of  the  city  were  to  be  submitted. 
This  was  not  done,  but  application  was  made  for  an  extension  of 
time.  Siverly  and  West  End  boroughs  have  been  urged  to  co-operate 
with  Oil  City  in  the  matter  of  sewage  disposal.  The  manufacturing 
plants,  especially  oil  refineries,  contribute  more  or  less  wastes  of  a 
deleterious  character. 

West  End  borough,  with  a  population  of  about  500,  is  situated  on 
the  east  bank  of  the  river  just  below  and  adjoining  Oil  City,  of 
which  it  is  properly  a  suburb.  Its  industries  are  few  and  small,  the 
principal  plants  being  that  of  the  Kramer  Wagon  Company,  employ- 
ing about  fifty  persons,  and  the  Riverside  Gas  Engine  Works,  with 
about  thirty  employees.  Water  for  domestic  purposes  is  furnished  by 
the  West  End  Water  Company.  It  is  derived  from  three  springs 
and  three  drilled  wells.  The  entire  population  uses  the  water,  the 
average  consumption  being  about  120  gallons  per  capita.  The 
Kramer  Wagon  Works  has  a  private  industrial  supply  taken  from 

111 


the  river.  There  are  no  municipal  sewers  and  only  three  private 
sewers  serving  about  sixty  persons.  These  private  sewers  are  said 
to  discharge  Into  storm  sewers  belonging  to  the  borough,  but  such 
connections  were  made  without  the  approval  or  consent  of  the  bor- 
ough authorities.  Designs  for  a  general  sewerage  system  have  been 
submitted  to  the  Department  and  application  made  for  their  ap- 
proval. These  plans  will  be  approved  subject  to  certain  conditions 
allowing  their  use  for  sanitary  sewage  only  and  a  reasonable  time 
will  be  given  the  borough  in  which  to  prepare  plans  for  sewage  dis- 
posal, preferably  in  conjunction  and  co-operation  with  Oil  City.  It 
appears  that  there  are  no  industrial  wastes  of  importance. 

(b)  Oil  Creek  Drainage  Area.  The  East  Branch  of  Oil  Creek  heads 
in  the  extreme  southeastern  part  of  Erie  County  and  the  north- 
western piart  of  Crawford  County  and  flows  in  a  southwesterly  di- 
rection to  its  confluence  with  the  West  Branch  at  Centerville.  The 
West  Branch  heads  in  the  northeastern  part  of  Crawford  County 
in  Canadohta  Lake  and  flows  southeasterly  to  its  junction  with  the 
East  Branch.  From  Centerville,  Oil  Creek  takes  a  winding  course, 
flowing  southwest  for  a  few  miles  when  it  bends  to  the  east  and 
flows  southeast  to  Titusville.  The  direction  of  its  course  from 
Titusville  through  Venango  County  to  its  junction  with  the  Alle- 
gheny River  at  Oil  City  is  almost  due  south. 

Both  the  East  and  West  Branches  of  Oil  Creek  receive  many  tribu- 
taries throughout  their  course  and  flow,  generally  speaking,  through 
barren  waste  lands,  most  of  their  length.  Tn  the  vicinity  of  Center- 
ville, where  the  valley  is  wide  and  rolling,  there  are  numerous  farms, 
probably  the  best  in  this  basin.  Between  Centerville  and  Titusville 
the  valley  is  about  one-half  mile  wide,  with  numerous  ravines  and 
rolling  wooded  hillsides  on  both  banks.  There  are  a  few  farms  in 
this  section,  most  of  them  on  the  uplands  some  distance  from  the 
creek.  At  Titusville  the  valley  widens  to  about  one  mile,  the  soil 
is  well  cultivated  and  numerous  farms  are  found  in  this  section.  Be- 
low Titusville  the  valley  steadily  narrows,  being  about  one-quarter 
of  a  mile  wide  at  its  mouth,  while  the  creek  itself  is  about  250  feet 
wide.  In  this  section  the  bottom-lands  are  mostly  waste,  the  banks 
are  steep,  in  some  places  rising  to  a  height  of  200  feet  above  the 
stream  and  are  covered  with  a  poor  second-growth  timber. 

Near  the  mouth  of  Oil  Creek  the  ptetroleum  industry  of  this  coun- 
try had  its  origin  in  1855.  At  that  time  the  oil  was  obtained  by 
skimming  the  floating  deposits  on  the  water,  but  in  1859  the  first 
well  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  oil  in  large  quanties  was  drilled 
near  Titusville.  Large  numbers  of  wells  were  then  put  down  and 
the  industry  developed  rapidly  all  along  the  creek  until  1882.  The 
aspect  of  the  valley  from  Titusville  to  the  river  is  that  of  a  thick 
forest  of  oil  derricks.  From  1882  to  the  present  there  has  been  a 
decrease  in  production,  at  first  rapid  and  then  more  gradual. 

112 


Oil  Creek  drains  an  area  of  285  square  miles,  including  all  the 
eastern  portion  of  Crawford  Comity,  northern  part  of  Venango 
County  and  the  southwestern  coiner  of  Warren  County.  The  soil 
of  this  district,  especially  the  northern  part,  Avhile  often  yielding 
abundant  crops,  is  mainly  adapted  to  grazing  and  can  be  most 
successfully  used  for  such  purposes.  As  a  rule  the  soil  is  generally 
inclined  to  be  cold  and  wet,  so  that  the  land  has  to  be  thoroughly 
underdained  before  first-class  cropjs  can  be  raised.  The  valley  of 
the  creek  itself  is  wide  and  flat  in  most  parts:  the  hills  rise  abruptly 
often  with  cliffs  from  its  flood  plains,  showing  that  its  ancient  bed 
lies  far  beneath  its  present  surface. 

The  northern  feeders  of  Oil  Creek  descend  southward  from  the 
highlands  with  slopes  of  from  fifty  to  a  hundred  feet  to  the  mile. 
This  fall  steadily  decreases,  however,  and  the  average  slope  for  the 
entire  stream  is  about  ten  feet  to  the  mile.  A  gauging  of  this  creek 
taken  at  Rouseville  on  September  27th,  1908,  showed  the  minimum 
discharge  to  be  39.27  second  feet. 

Rainfall  records  have  been  taken  at  Oil  City,  covering  a  period 
of  twenty-six  years,  and  of  these  the  records  for  twenty-three  years 
are  complete.  They  show  the  following  results  in  inches  per  an- 
num: maximum,  50.62;  minimum,  22.80;  mean,  for  total  period, 
42.04. 

The  total  population  of  the  basin  is  21,900,  divided  into  the  fol- 
lowing proportions:  urban,  1.2.800;  rural,  9,100.  The  total  rural 
population  is  approximately  thirtv-two  to  the  square  mile. 

Titusville,  with  a  population  of  10,000,  is  the  only  town  of  any 
size  in  the  entire  basin. 

There  are  two  water-power  developments  at  Spartansburg,  one 
of  them  of  twenty  horsepower,  one  small  plant  at  Titusville  and  one 
at  Centerville. 

With  respect  to  industrial  occupations,  agriculture  is  the  dominant 
one  in  the  upper  portion  of  the  watershed,  but  from  Titusville  down 
to  its  mouth  the  production  of  oil  is  pre-eminent.  Aside  from  che 
woolen  mills  at  Spartansburg,  there  are  few  industrial  pilants  of  im- 
portance except  at  Titusville  and  Rouseville.  The  industries  of 
Titusville  are  varied  and  include  three  oil  refineries,  a  number  of 
furniture  factories  and  wood- working  plants,  several  steel  and  iron 
works,  the  Queen  City  Tannery  of  the  Elk  Tanning  Company,  and 
paraffin  and  soap  works,  and  at  Rouseville  there  are  two  refineries. 

The  Pennsylvania  Railroad  has  a  branch  extending  from  Oil  City 
the  entire  length  of  Oil  Creek  from  the  mouth  to  the  head  waters  of 
the  east  branch  of  the  creek  with  a  branch  line  extending  up  the 
west  branch,  and  a  branch  of  the  New  York  Central  extends  from 
Titusville  in  a  northeasterly  direction  up  Caldwell  Creek,  event- 
ually reaching  Warren  and  Buffalo.  The  total  trackage  on  the  water- 
shed is  about  sixty  miles. 

113 


oil  Creek  is  not  used  as  a  source  of  public  water  supply,  except 
thai  it  is  available  for  emergency  use  ai  Titusville.  The  only  public 
supplies  on  the  watershed  arc  the  municipal  plant  at  Titusville,  an 
artesian  well  supply,  and  the  Stone  Hill  Water  Company  at  Rouse- 
\ille.  a  small  company  deriving  its  supply  from  springs.  The  public 
generally  throughout  the  watershed  derive  their  domestic  supply  from 
private  wells  and  springs.  The  Queen  City  Tannery  at  Titusville 
has  a  private  industrial  supply  for  emergency  use  derived  from  Oil 
Creek  and  at  Rouseville  the  Germania  Oil  Company  lias  an  indus- 
trial supply  taken  from  Cherry  Run. 

The  vast  number  of*  oil  wells  between  Titusville  and  the  mouth 
of  the  creek  produces  a  marked  effect  on  the  character  of  the  water. 
Oil  is  constantly  present  on  the  surface  of  the  water,  sometimes  to 
the  extent  of  creating  a  decided  nuisance,  and  considerable  salt 
water  also  comes  from  these  wells,  salt  water  being  usually  asso- 
ciated with  and  underlying  the  oil  as  it  is  found  in  the  ground.  At 
Rouseville,  where  Oil  Creek  water  is  used  for  boiler  and  condensing 
purposes  at  the  Crystal  Oil  Works,  the  amount  of  salt  in  solution 
is  very  appreciable.  The  water  of  Cherry  Run  used  at  the  Germania 
Refinery  at  liouseville  contains  salt,  magnesia,  and  sulphate. 

A  field  analysis  of  Oil  Creek  water  at  Titusville  in  190G  showed 
the  following  results: 


Field  Assay  of  Oil  Creek  Water  at  Titusville,  Pa.,  1906. 


Turbidity.    ... 

Color,     

Iron,    

Calcium 

Total    nardnei 
Alkalinity, 
Sulphates,     .. 
Chlorides,    ... 


l'arts  per 
Million. 


50.0 

isn.o 

1.5 
46.0 
39.0 
36. 0 
5.0 
5.5 


Titusville  is  the  only  municipality  having  a  public  sewer  system. 
It  is  estimated  that  the  sewage  of  8,105  persons,  urban  and  rural, 
reaches  the  creek  above  Oil  City.  Aside  from  the  ever  present  waste 
oil  from  the  wells,  the  principal  sources  of  pollution  are  the  oil  re- 
fineries. 

Spartansburg,  Crawford  County,  population  400,  is  situated  in 
the  northeastern  corner  of  the  county,  near  the  head  waters  of  the 
east  branch  of  Oil  Creek.  The  borough  is  at  the  lower  end  of  a  small 
body  of  water  known  as  Clear  Lake,  which  is  about  one  mile  in  length 
and  forms  the  head  waters  of  the  east  branch.    The  water  supply  is 


114 


derived  from  private  drilled  .and  dug  wells,  there  being  no  public 
system.  There  are  no  piublic  sewers  and  but  few  private  sewers 
from  individual  houses,  privies  being  in  general  use.  Kitchen  wastes 
generally  are  discharged  to  the  ground.  The  only  industries  of 
importance  are  the  Tauber  Woolen  Mill,  with  about  twenty  employ 
and  a  flour  mill.  There  are  two  water-power  installations  here,  one 
of  them  developing  twenty  horsepower. 

Riceville,  Crawford  County,  population  210,  is  situated  on  the 
west  branch  of  Oil  Creek,  about  three  miles  below  its  source  in  Cana- 
dohta  Lake.  The  only  industry  of  importance  is  the  Marsh  and 
Allen  Handle  and  Saw  Mill,  employing  about  twenty  persons.  Water 
for  domestic  purposes  is  derived  from  private  drilled  and  dug  wells, 
there  being  no  public  system.  There  are  no  i>ublic  sewers  and  but 
three  private  sewers,  these  being  small  drains  for  kitchen  waste 
discharging  into  Oil  Creek.  Privies  are  in  general  use  and  kitchen 
waste  is  usually  discharged  to  the  ground,  and  there  is  but  one 
cesspool. 

Centerville,  Crawford  County,  with  a  population  of  300,  is  a  bor- 
ough situated  in  the  eastern  part  of  Crawford  county  at  the  junction 
of  the  east  and  west  branches  of  Oil  Creek.  There  is  a  small  water 
power  development  here,  but  apparently  no  enterprises  of  industrial 
importance.  Private  wells  and  springs  serve  the  inhabitants,  there 
being  no  public  water  system.  There  are  no  sewers,  public  or  private, 
privies  being  in  general  use,  and  kitchen  wastes  are  discharged  to  the 
ground  except  in  three  instances,  one  to  the  highway  and  two  to 
Oil  Creek.  A  barn  used  as  a  slaughter  house  discharges  blood  and 
refuse  through  a  hog-pen  into  a  branch. 

Hydetown,  Crawford  County,  population  about  400,  is  situated 
near  the  southeastern  corner  of  the  county  on  Oil  Creek  about  three 
miles  above  Titusville.  A  small  sanatorium  is  the  only  enterprise 
in  the  borough.  A  private  water  system,  that  of  the  Ridgway  Estate, 
supiplies  a  few  houses  with  water  from  three  drilled  wells,  from  which 
water  is  pumped  to  a  reservoir  at  an  elevation  of  about  230  feet 
above  the  creek.  Otherwise  the  inhabitants  depend  upon  private 
driven  and  dug  wells.  There  are  three  private  sewers,  one  of  them 
serving  four  properties  and  discharging  into  Oil  Creek.  Kitchen 
waste  is  generally  discharged  to  the  ground,  though  there  are  a  few 
cesspools.  Privies  are  generally  used,  some  of  them  causing  a  nuis- 
ance in  a  small  swamp  in  the  borough. 

Titusville,  a  city  of  the  third  class,  population  about  10.000,  is 
situated  in  the  extreme  southeastern  corner  of  Crawford  County, 
adjoining  the  Venango  County  line,  on  Oil  Creek.  Its  industries 
are  quite  extensive,  including  three  oil  refineries,  steel  works,  four 
iron  working  establishments,  paraffin  wTorks,  soap  works.  Queen 
City  Tannery  of  the  Elk  Tanning  Company,  and,  until  recently,  the 


115 


Grasselli  Chemical  Company's  acid  works,  which  plant  has  recently 
been  abandoned.  There  is  also  a  water-power  installation  on  Oil 
Creek  at  this  pioint.  The  city  owns  its  water  works  and  supplies 
practically  the  entire  population,  there  being  few  private  wells  or 
springs  in  use.  The  public  water  supply  is  derived  from  ten  artesian 
wells  on  the  Banks  of  Oil  Creek  west  of  the  city,  and  is  said  to  be 
clear  and  abundant.  An  intake  at  the  pumping  station  supplies 
crude  creel':  water  to  the  boilers  and  tins  supply  is  available  for 
emergency  used  in  the  public  system.  The  Queen  City  Tannery  de- 
rives an  emergency  supply  from  Oil  ("reek.  The  city  has  a  combined 
sewerage  system  with  three  outlets  into  Oil  Creek,  two  into  a  mill- 
race  and  four  into  Church  Run,  the  most  important  of  them  discharg- 
ing into  the  last-named  stream.  There  are  also  numerous  small 
sewers  emptying  into  the  creek.  The  public  system  proving  inade- 
quate, the  city  proposes  to  install  a  separate  system  of  sewers.  Per- 
mits were  issued  by  the  Commissioner  of  Health  on  July  ISth,  1906, 
and  February  20th,  1907,  approving  the  construction  of  certain  sew- 
ers and  requiring  that  a  comprehensive  plan  for  sewerage  for  the 
entire  city  be  prepared,  having  for  its  object  the  ultimate  disposal 
of  all  of  the  sewage  of  the  city.  Tt  is  estimated  that  7,000  persons 
in  Titusville  contribute  sewrage  to  Oil  Creek.  Many  of  the  indus- 
trial plants  discharge  manufactural  wastes  into  Oil  Creek,  but  these 
are  not  of  an  especially  deleterious  character,  with  the  exception  of 
the  tannery  wastes  noted  below.  Formerly  the  acid  works  of  the 
Grasselli  Chemical  Company  discharged  wastes  which  materially 
affected  the  quality  of  the  stream. 

Grand  Valley,  Warren  County,  is  a  borough  situated  in  the  south- 
western part  of  the  county  near  the  head  waters  of  Caldwell  Creek, 
a  tributary  entering  Oil  Creek  at  the  lower  end  of  Titusville  city.  Tt 
has  a  papulation  of  290.  Its  industries  are  unimportant.  A  pri- 
vately owned  water  system  supplies  water  from  two  springs  on  the 
hillside  to  some  150  consumers,  the  remaining  population  using 
dialled  wells  and  a  few  springs.  There  is  no  public  sewer  system, 
but  about  ten  properties,  including  a  creamery,  discharge  sewage 
through  private  sewers  into  Caldwell  Creek.  Kitchen  wastes  are 
discharged  to  the  ground  except  in  a  few  instances  where  they  go  to 
the  highways.  Tn  the  northern  part  of  the  borough  there  is  a 
slaughter  house  from  which  the  refuse  passes  into  the  creek  and 
thence  through  a  hog-pen.  The  ice  supply  of  the  borough  is  derived 
from  a  pond  formed  by  a  dam  across  the  creek  at  a  point  about  200 
feet  below  the  slaughter  house. 

Iiouseville,  Venango  County,  population  700,  is  a  borough  sit- 
uated on  Oil  Creek,  three  miles  above  its  mouth  at  Oil  City.  The 
borough  is  in  the  heart  of  the  first  oil  field  to  be  developed  in  the 
State  and  is  essentially  an  oil  towrn.     Its  principal  industrial  plants 


116 


are  two  refineries,  the  Germania  Refining  Company,  with  fifty ^em- 

ployees,  and  the  Crystal  Oil  Works,  with  eighteen  employees.  Water 
is  supplied  to  the  public  generally  by  the  Stone  Hill  Water  Company, 
and  is  derived  from  springs.    There  is  also  a  private  spring  supply 
serving  a  hotel  and  Ave  families.     In  addition  to  Ibis  there  are  in 
use  twenty  wells  and  sixteen  springs.    The  Germania  Refining  Com- 
pany  derives  an  industrial  supply  from  Cherry  Run  and  discharges 
into  the  creek  wastes  containing  a  small  quantity  of  sulphuric  acid 
so  it  is  reported.     It  is  said  that  the  wastes  from  the  Crystal  Od 
Works  are  similar  in  character.    There  is  no  public  sewer  system  and 
only  a  few  individual  private  sewers.     Privies  are  generally  used, 
and  kitchen  wastes  are  discharged  to  the  highways,  stream  or  the 
ground.     About  one-half   of   the   population   probably   pollutes   the 
stream  with  sewage. 

(c)  Typhoid  Fever.  Not.  all  of  the  cases  of  typhoid  fever  occurring 
at  Oil  City  have  been  reported  to  the  Department  at  Harnsburg. 
This  is  owing  to  the  neglect  of  physicians  to  report  their  cases  to 
the  local  board  of  health  officers,  or  to  the  neglect  of  the  local  authori- 
ties to  transmit  the  reports  to  the  State  Department  of  Health.  In  the 
following  tabular  form  is  given  the  number  of  cases  reported  by  the 
local  health  authorities  for  the  years  1906  to  1912,  inclusive. 

Typhoid    Fever    Cases    Reported    for    the    Section    of    the    Allegheny    Basin    from 
>P  Oil  Creek  to  French  Creek,  1906-1912,  inclusive. 


Titusville,     ... 

Oil  City 

Centerville,  . . 
Hydetown,  .. 
Grand    Valley, 


1909. 

1910'. 

1911. 

1912 

15 

32 

S 

2 

6 

7 

0 

2 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

2 

Section  10.— French  Creek  to  the  Clarion  River, 
(a)  Along  Allegheny  River.  From  Franklin  the  Allegheny  River 
continues  in  a  circuitous  course  through  the  south  central  and 
eastern  parts  of  Venango  County,  a  distance  of  forty  miles  to  Fox- 
burg  where  the  Clarion  River  enters.  During  this  distance  the  hills 
follow  the  river  quite  closely,  regular  bottom  lands  being  found  only 
at  the  mouths  of  the  large  tributaries.  The  valley  for  the  greater 
part  of  its  distance  is  narrow,  with  high,  rocky,  wooded  lulls  alternat- 
ing on  either  side.  Between  the  hills  are  numerous  ravines  Small 
timber  operations  are  carried  on  along  the  river  in  Venango  County. 

117 


In  the  vicinity  of  Brandon,  the  bed  of  the  stream  is  covered  with 
boulders  lying  irregularly  over  each  other.  The  pools  in  the  river 
gradually  deepen  to  fourteen  feel  or  over  and  average  a  mile  in 
length.  From  Fianklin  t<>  Pittsburgh,  the  slope  of  the  river  averages 
2.1  ft.  to  the  mile.  The  total  population  <>r  this  section  of  the  river 
is  33,150,  divided  as  follows:  urban  16,390,  rural  L6, 760.  Franklin 
city,  the  largest  municipality  in  this  territory,  has  a  population  of 
10,000. 

The  tributaries  have  been  stocked  with  trout  by  the  State  Fish 
Commission,  and  the  Allegheny  River  with  bass,  yellow  perch,  pick- 
erel, and  pike  perch. 

Water  power  installations  on  this  division  are  found  on  Little 
Scrub  Grass  Creek,  twenty  horsepower,  on  Rickey  Run,  on  Sandy 
Creek,  at   Polk  and  Sandy  Lake,  and  on  Pine  Run. 

Relative  to  navigation,  surveys  were  made  and  a  very  considerable 
amount  of  work  was  performed  on  the  canalization  of  French  Creek 
in  oi-der  to  obtain  a  navigable  water  way  from  Pittsburgh  to  Lake 
Erie;  but  the  uncompleted  canal  was  abandoned  many  years  ago.  The 
industries  of  this  division  are  varied,  oil  and  gas  production  pre- 
dominating. Agriculture  is  of  secondary  importance.  Sandy  Creek 
marks  the  northern  limit  of  coal  production  along  the  river  proper. 
At  Stoneboro  on  Sandy  Creek  and  at  various  points  along  the  river 
are  found  small  mines  of  little  importance.  The  railroads  include 
the  Pennsylvania,  following  east  bank  of  the  river,  the  Lake  Shore 
&  Michigan  Southern,  extending  west  from  Franklin,  and  the  Frank- 
lin and  Clearfield,  a  new  road  from  Franklin  eastward  through 
Clarion. 

Ground  and  surface  water  supplies  both  private  and  public  are  in 
general  use  in  the  municipalities  in  this  division.  At  Franklin  an 
emergency  supply  is  drawn  from  French  Creek,  which  the  Department 
has  required  to  be  filtered  when  used.  At  Fmlenton,  the  use  of  six 
new  wells  has  been  approved,  but  should  the  supply  prove  inadequate 
and  render  necessary  the  return  to  the  use  of  the  river  water,  it  is 
required  that  filters  shall  be  installed.  Foxburg  is  supplied  from 
wells  on  a  bluff  overlooking  the  town:  but  an  intake  in  the  river  for- 
merly the  source  of  supply,  is  maintained  for  fire  protection  only.  A 
number  of  industrial  plants,  notably  at  Fianklin.  have  private  sup- 
plies for  manufacturing  purposes.  Fianklin.  Fmlenton  and  Foxburg 
have  sewer  systems  to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  at  Franklin  serving 
7,300  persons,  about  three-fourths  of  the  population,  and  at  Foxburg 
600,  the  entire  population.  Industrial  wastes  are  contributed  by  the 
refineries  ai  Franklin  and  Fmlenton  and  from  the  woolen  mill  at  the 
latter  place;  bu1  probably  the  chief  source  of  industrial  pollution 
in  this  divisi)  n  lies  in  the  presence  of  a  vast  number  of  oil  wells, 
waste  oil  from  which  reaches  the  streams  in  considerable  quantities, 
especially  during  wet  weather. 

IIS 


Franklin  is  a  city  with  a  population  of  10,000,  the  county  seat  of 
Venango  County.  It  is  a  manufacturing  and  residential  community 
located  on  the  west  bank  of  tlie  Allegheny  River  and  on  both  banks 
of  French  Creek.  The  site  of  the  town  is  principally  on  flats  border- 
ing the  streams  and  hemmed  in  by  high  hills  on  ;ill  sides.  It  is 
reached  by  four  railroads,  the  Erie,  the  Lake  Shore  and  Michigan 
Southern,  the  Pennsylvania,  and  the  Franklin  and  Clearfield.  Its 
industries  include  a  foundry  of  the  American  Steel  Works,  Pneumatic 
Tool  Works,  Rolling  Mill,  Manifold  Works,  Brass  foundry,  Machine 
Shops,  Flour  Mills,  and  plants  for  the  manufacture  of  railway  sup- 
plies and  oil  well  outfits.  The  principal  industries  are  located  near 
the  southern  extremity  of  the  city,  including  the  plants  of  the  Gen- 
eral Manifold  and  Printing  Company,  150  employees,  the  Colburn 
Machine  Tool  Company,  ISO  employees  and  the  Franklin  Railway 
Supply  Company  with  200  employees.  Below  French  Creek  there 
are  a  number  of  plants  including  the  Galena  Signal  Oil  Works,  the 
Franklin  Rolling  Mill  and  Foundry  Company,  American  Steel  Foun- 
dry Company,  Chicago  Pneumatic  Tool  Company,  and  several  Oil 
Well  Supply  Companies.  The  Venango  Water  Company  formerly 
supplied  the  city  with  water  and  derived  its  principal  supply  from 
the  ground  in  the  vicinity  of  the  pumping  station  by  way  of  a  large 
dug  well  and  driven  wells  situated  on  French  Creek.  Copious  springs 
and  surface  waters  from  the  hillsides  furnish  a  smaller  portion  of 
the  water  and  when  these  supplies  are  insufficient,  French  Creek  water 
is  used.  Permits  have  been  is.su ed  from  time  to  time  by  the  Commis- 
sioner of  Health  for  the  use  of  additional  springs  and  streams  and  on 
December  11,  1907,  plans  were  approved  and  a  permit  granted  for 
the  installation  of  a  filter  plant  and  the  use  of  French  Creek  water 
only  after  filtration.  On  July  15th,  190S.  the  city  purchased  the 
property  of  the  Venango  Water  Company.  There  are  some  twelve 
and  a  third  miles  of  combined  sewers  serving  the  city,  principally 
ten-inch  pipe  and  serving  about  three-fourths  of  the  papulation,  in 
many  cases  inadequately.  The  system  has  twelve  outlets  into  French 
Creek  or  the  river  in  addition  to  which  the  greater  portion  of  the 
industrial  plants  have  individual  sewer  outlets.  In  January.  1908, 
a  permit  was  issued  by  the  Commissioner  of  Health  approving  cer- 
tain sewer  extensions  and  permitting  the  temporary  discharge  of 
sewage  into  the  waters  of  the  State. 

In  the  sewerage  decree  to  Franklin  of  190S,  the  Commissioner  of 
Health  had  the  following  to  say  about  the  State's  policy: 

"Thirty  miles  below  the  mouth  of  French  Creek  the  borough  of  Emlenton  takes  its 
water  supply  from  the  Allegheny  River  and  so  do  other  municipalities  all  the 
way  down  to  Pittsburgh.  The  regulation  of  sewage  discharge  into  this  stream 
and  its  tributaries  has  been  effected  by  the  Commissioner  of"  Health  both  above 
and  below  the  city  of  Franklin  in  all  those  instances  where,  under  the  law.  the 
Commissioner  has  jurisdiction.  In  no  instance  has  a  limit  of  over  three  years  been 
granted  beyond  which  sewage  may  continue  to  be  discharged  into  the  waters  of  the 
State.    Oil  City  and  Meadville  have  come  under  this  regulation.    At  the  present  time, 

U9 


the  city  of  Meadville  is  engaged  in  preparing  plans  for  the  purification  of  its  sewage. 
In  keening  With  this  policy,  it  is  essential  that  the  authorities  in  the  city  of 
Franklin  should  anticipate  the  treatment  of  the  city  sewage  and  do  such  work 
in  the  way  of  sewer  extensions  from  now  on  as  shall  fit  into  and  be  a  part 
of  the  comprehensive  and  complete,  ellicient  and  economical  plan  for  the  collection 
of  ;:11  of  the  house  drainage  everywhere  in  the  city  and  its  deliverance  to  and 
purification  in  a  disposal  plant.  Such  a  plan  precludes  the  admission  of  storm 
water  or  milch  roof  water  into  the  sewer.  If  any  storm  water  is  to  he  admitted) 
then  it  should  be  limited  to  such  a  maximum  quantity  as  it  may  be  found  practi- 
cable  to   receive   and    handle   at   the  sewage  disposal    works. 

"In  solving  this  problem  the  best  investment  which  the  city  can  make  is  in  the 
employment  of  proper  engineering  skill.  As  previously  stated,  a  thorough  knowl- 
edge of  i  he  existing  sewers  is  requisite.  Then  judgment  must  lie  exercised  as  to  how 
best  to  separate  sewage  from  storm  water  in  the  existing  sewers,  and  what  sewers 
should  be  incorporated  into  the  sanitary  system  and  what  sewers  should  be  used 
exclusively  for  storm  water.  Then  would  follow  the  location  or  locations  for  the 
sewage  disposal  works  and  the  devising  of  plans  for  the  most  efficient  deliverance 
of  the  sewag  •  there, 

"When  these  things  are  done  and  the  plan  is  approved  and  becomes  official,  it 
will  be  possible  for  the  city  to  make  sewer  improvements  without  wasting  money 
but  not  otherwise." 

Slieakleyville  borough,  Mercer  County,  is  a  small  rural  commun- 
ity situated  <>n  a  divide  between  the  Shenango  and  Allegheny  river 
watersheds  and  draining  to  the  latter  by  way  of  Sandy  Creek.  It  has 
a  population  of  about  170.  It  has  no  industries  except  a  small  cream- 
civ,  no  sewers  and  no  water  system.  Private  drilled  wells  from 
sixty-five  to  seventy-five  feet  deep  supply  water  to  the  community. 

Stoneboro  borough,  Mercer  County,  with  a  population  of  1,0G0 
is  located  on  the  south  side  of  Sandy  Lake,  a  small  body  of  water 
one  mile  long  and  one  quarter  mile  wide,  discharging  by  way  of  a 
short  outlet  into  Sandy  Creek.  Tee  harvesting  forms  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal industries.  A  bituminous  coal  mine  near  by,  which  has  since 
been  abandoned,  produced  27.000  tons  in  1007.  A  few  wells  and 
springs  are  in  use  but  a  municipal  water  plant  deriving  its  supply 
from  springs  discharging  into  a  reservoir  of  224,000  gallons  capacity 
serves  the  greater  portion  of  the  population.  Practically  all  of  the 
few  typhoid  cases  are  said  to  have  been  brought  in  by  railroad  men. 
The  borough  is  without  sewers,  kitchen  waste  being  generally  dis- 
charged on  the  ground,  and  streams  and  swamps  used  as  a  dumping 
ground  for  refuse  of  all  kinds,  producing  an  unsanitary  state  of  af- 
fairs. 

Sandy  Lake,  Mercer  County,  is  a  borough  of  700  inhabitants  sit- 
uated ;ii  Hie  lower  end  of  Sandy  Lake  along  its  outlet.  It  is  a  rural 
community,  its  industries  including  a  blacksmith  shop,  a  wagon 
shop,  and  a  few  small  coal  mines  in  the  vicinity.  There  is  a  mill 
race  and  a  small  water  power  development  here,  but  to  what  extent 
it  is  used  is  not  known.  There  are  in  use  a  number  of  driven  wells, 
about  thirty  feet  deep,  from  which  an  apparently  good  supply  is 
derived,  the  water  coming  from  a  stratum  of  gravel  overlain  with 
clay,  but  the  pjublic  generally  to  the  number  of  about  500  are  sup- 
plied by  the  Sandy  Lake  Water  Company.  This  is  a  chartered  com- 
pany deriving  its  supply  from  springs  and  small  streams.  The  bor- 
ough has  three  storm  drains  but  no  public  sanitary  sewers.  There 
nre,  however,  n  few  private  sewers  from  four  to  six  inches  in  diame- 

120 


ter,  discharging'  kitchen  waste  and  sometimes  sewage  into  the  high- 
ways and  into  the  mill  race  and  Sandy  Lake  outlet.  Loosely  cod 
structed  privies  and  cesspools  are  largely  used.  The  sanitary  condi- 
tions of  the  town  are  unfavorable  and  typhoid  fever  is  of  quite 
common  occurrence.  The  unsanitary  conditions  are  in  part  due  to 
the  overflowing  of  Handy  Creek  and  to  the  gradual  filling  up  of  its 
bed  and  of  the  outlet  of  Sandy  Lake,- with  sediment  and  debris.  As 
a  result  the  lower  portion  of  the  borough  which  was  formerly  dry 
ground  and  used  for  building  and  business  purposes,  has  now  become 
wet  and  swampy  and  a  serious  menace  to  the  business  prospects  as 
well  as  the  health  of  the  borough. 

The  borough  of  Polk,  Venango  County,  population  1,840,  is  sit- 
uated on  Sandy  Creek  at  its  junction  with  Little  Sandy  in  the  north- 
western part  of  this  county  and  about  eight  miles  west  of  Frank- 
lin. About  two-thirds  of  its  area  and  three-fourths  of  its  popula- 
tion are  included  in  the  State  Institution  for  Feeble  Minded  of 
Western  Pennsylvania.  Industrially  the  interests  of  the  borough 
centre  chiefly  about  the  institution.  A  small  water  power  develop- 
ment on  Sandy  Creek  exists  at  this  point.  Aside  from  the  institu- 
tion the  inhabitants  derive  their  water  supply  from  private  dug  and 
drilled  wells.  There  are  no  sewers  and  to  the  general  use  of  privies 
and  cesspools;  the  prevalence  of  tA^phoid  has  been  attributed  with 
apparent  good  reason.  In  1903,  there  were  6  cases,  in  1904,  6  cases; 
1905,  8  cases;  1906,  15  cases;  1907,  4  cases,  and  in  1908,  3  cases.  The 
discharge  of  sewage  from  nearly  1,500  persons  at  the  institution  into 
Sandy  Creek  within  the  borough  limits,  created  a  nuisance  and  as 
a  result,  the  State  Department  of  Health  has  designed  and  super- 
vised the  construction  of  a  modern  sewage  disposal  plant  to  purify 
the  sewage  from  the  institution.  The  water  supply  of  the  institution 
has  been  derived  by  gravity  from  four  springs  and  in  times  of 
drouth  from  an  emergency  intake  on  North  Sandy  Creek.  A  sparse 
population  on  the  watershed  has  made  it  desirable  to  abandon  the 
latter  sources  and  steps  have  been  taken  to  acquire  additional 
springs. 

Clinton ville  borough,  Venango  County,  population  320,  is  an  in- 
land town  near  the  headwaters  of  Scrub  Grass  Creek  in  the  southern 
part  of  Venango  County.  There  are  no  manufacturing  plants,  the 
production  of  oil  being  the  dominant  industry.  The  town  was  con- 
siderably larger  thirty  years  ago  during  the  oil  excitement  in  this 
part  of  the  State,  but  in  1900,  the  number  had  reduced  to  262.  The 
recent  discovery  and  development  of  a  rich  oil  field  in  the  country 
round  about  the  borough  has  given  the  place  a  fresh  impetus  and 
some  further  increase  in  population  may  be  expected,  though  it  is 
an  inland  town  accessible  only  by  way  of  the  public  highways.  Wells 
dug  into  the  underlying  limestone  and  drilled  wells  passing  through 
into  the  deeper  gravel  formation  form  the  sources  of  water  supply 

121 


and  are  all  private.  A  public  water  system  using  artesian  well  water 
is  contemplated.  There  are  no  sewers  in  the  borough.  Kitchen 
drainage  is  thrown  on  the  surface  of  the  ground  and  into  the  high- 
ways. It  may  be  expected  that  the  water  taken  from  the  dug  wells 
will  sooner  or  later  become  polluted.  The  only  source  of  pollution 
of  the  creek  within  the  borough  appears  to  be  that  coming  from  a 
slaughter  house.  A  permit  was  granted  October  9th,  L908,  to  the  bor- 
ough for  the  construction  of  a  sewer  system  requiring  the  separation 
of  storm  water  and  sewage  ami  the  preparation  of  plans  for  a  sewage 
purification  planl  before  the  sewers  shall  he  built  ami  used. 

Eau  Claire.  Butler  County,  is  a  borough  of  -100  inhabitants,  sit- 
uated about  six  miles  southwest  of  the  Allegheny  River  at  Emlenton. 
It  is  on  a  divide  between  the  Allegheny  ami  Beaver  river  watersheds 
ami  practically  all  its  drainage  goes  to  the  latter  stream.  It  is  a 
rural  community  without  water  or  sewerage  systems.  Kitchen  waste 
is  generally  discharged  to  the  ground  but  there  is  no  record  of  any 
nuisance  complaint. 

The  borough  of  Emlenton,  Venango  County,  is  located  on  the  north 
bank  of  the  Allegheny  River.    It  has  a  population  estimated  at  1,300, 
largely  interested   in    the  production   of  oil,   which   abounds  in   the 
surrounding  region.     The  Emlenton  Oil  Refinery  and  a  woolen  mill 
together  with  several  small  machine  shops  furnish  the  principal  em- 
ployment.    Water  is  supplied  to  the  community  by   the  Emlenton 
Water  Company,  a  chartered  company  whose  source  of  supply  is  an 
intake  with  a  free  opening  in  the  centre  of  the  river,  from  which  an 
eight-inch  suction  pipe  leads  to  a  pumping  station,  whence  water  is 
delivered  to  a  reservoir  of  307,000  gallons  capacity.     A  permit  was 
granted  by  the  Commissioner  of  Health  to  the  Emlenton  Water  Com- 
pany on  April  21st,  1008,  approving  the  use  of  water  from  a  new 
source,  namely  six  drilled  wells  and  requiring  the  abandonment  of 
the  use  of  river  water  provided,  however,  that  if  the  well  supply 
should  prove  inadequate,  then  the  water  company  must  install  fil- 
ters for  the  purification  of  river  water.    Emlenton  has  a  public  sewer 
system  designed  for  sanitary  purposes  only,  but  receiving  roof  drain- 
age as  well.    It  comprises  3.8  miles  of  sewers  and  discharges  through 
a  twenty  inch  cast  iron  pipe  into  the  river  near  the  lower  boundary 
line  of  the  borough.     This  system  serves  over  one-half  of  the  dwell- 
ings.   Separate  storm  drains  are  provided,  of  which  ten  independent 
lines  approximate  a  total  length  of  1.5  miles.    There  are  also  a  num- 
ber of  private  sewers  discharging  into  the  river.     A  permit  was  is- 
sued by  the  Commissioner  of  Health  on  April  27th,  1908,  for  the  con- 
struct ion     of    certain     sewers    and     requires    comprehensive    plans 
for  sanitary  sewerage  for  the  entire  borough  and  for  the  treatment 
of  its  sewage.     Scourings  and  spent  dye  stuff  from  the  woolen  mill 
and  trade  wastes  from  the  oil  refinery  both  of  which  are  above  the 
borough,  to  some  extent  pollute  the  stream. 

122 


In  the  said  decree  of  1908,  die  Commissioner  of  Health  had  the 
following  to  say  about  stream  pollution  in  the  neighborhood: 

"Four  miles  below  Emlenton  is  the  village  of  Foxburg  and  three  miles  below 
this  village  is  Parker  City.  Both  of  these  places  have  for  years  taken  their 
supply  of  drinking  water  from  the  Allegheny.  Recently  the  Foxburg  Water  Supply 
Company  has  sought  a  new  supply  from  wells  and  springs  on  the  hillside  back  of 
the  town. 

"But  below  these  towns  along  the  river  all  the  way  to  Pittsburgh  there  are 
numerous  municipalities  which  do  now  and  must  continue  to  rely  on  the  river  for 
a  public  supply  of  water.  It  is  the  pollution  of  the  river  by.  sewage  at  Franklin 
and  Oil  City  and  other  places  in  the  valley  above  Emlenton  that:  has  compelled 
the  Emlenton  Water  Company  in  safeguarding  the  public  health  to  seek  a  new 
supply,  but  the  greater  proportion  of  the  inhabitants  of  river  towns  cannol  thus 
avoid  the  menace  which  sewage  poisons  in  the  river  establish.  It  has  become  a 
State  policy  to  preserve  the  purity  of  the  State  for  the  protection  of  the  public 
health  and  in  the  administration  of  this  great  and  beneficent  law  a  policy  has 
been  inaugurated  which  will  ultimately  require  the  abandonment  of  the  discharge 
of  all  sewage  into  streams  used  subsequently  for  drinking  waters. 

"While  the  small  borough  of  Emlenton  may  not  be  compelled  to  take  its  sewage 
out  of  the  river  sooner  than  some  other  places,  yet  the  local  authorities  should 
be  informed  of  the  State's  policy  and  the  necessity  thereunder  of  plans  being  laid 
out  in  the  borough  for  a  sewer  plan  involving  the  ultimate  treatment  of  the  town's 
sewage." 

Foxburg,  Clarion  County,  is  a  small  village  just  above  the  mouth 
of  the  Clarion  River,  in  Richland  Township,  population  about  600 
and.  no  industries.  The  surrounding  region  is  productive  of  oil 
and  the  inhabitants  of  the  village  depend  chiefly  upon  this  industry. 
It  has  a  sewer  system  provided  by  the  Fox  estate,  which  owns  most 
of  the  village,  and  also  controls  the  Foxburg  Water  Works  Company. 
The  company  formerly  derived  its  supply  from  an  intake  crib  in  the 
bed  of  the  river.  This  supply  is  now  used  only  for  fire  protection 
and  a  new  source  has  been  obtained,  consisting  of  four  six-inch  wells 
drilled  on  a  crest  of  the  mountain  immediately  back  of  the  village. 
A  piermit  was  granted  on  May  4,  1008,  by  the  Commissioner  of  Health 
for  the  use  of  this  supply. 

(h)  French  Creek  Drainage  Area.  French  Creek  is  the  second  larg- 
est tributary  of  the  Allegheny  River.  Its  head  waters  are  partly  in 
western  Chautauqua  County,  New  York,  partly  in  the  extreme  east- 
ern part  of  Erie  County  and  partly  on  the  high  divide  in  north  Erie 
County  overlooking  Lake  Erie,  at  an  average  of  ten  miles  from  the 
shore.  The  extreme  eastern  head  waters  of  the  North  Branch  are 
in  the  southwestern  part  of  Chautauqua  County,  New  York.  This 
stream  flows  in  a  general' southwesterly  direction  for  about  twenty 
miles  where  the  South  Branch  joins  it  coming  from  the  east.  From 
its  source  the  South  Branch  runs  due  north  through  a  deep  cut  at 
the  head  of  Oil  Creek  and  reaches  the  valley  bed  about  one  mile  west 
of  Corry.  From  here  the  stream  turns  to  the  south  and  then  to  the 
west  and  flows,  with  many  sharp  bends  through  the  southeastern  por- 
tion of  Erie  County,  in  a  westerly  direction  to  its  confluence  with 
the  North  Branch  near  LeBoeuf.  The  ravine  through  which  the 
head  waters  of  this  Branch  flow  is  a  very  remarkable  through  cut 
valley,  the  walls  of  which  are  1,850  feet  above  sea  level.  From  the 
junction  of  these  branches,   French   Creek   continues  in   a   general 

123 


southwesterly  direction  with  many  bends  and  curves  through  Craw- 
ford County  to  Meadville,  twenty-eighl  miles  above  its  junction  with 
the  Allegheny  River;  thence  in  a  wide  gentle  curve  it  Hows  south 
east  through  the  extreme  northwestern  coiner  of  Mercer  County  into 
Venango  County  and  enters  the  Allegheny  River  at  Franklin,  12G.4 
miles  above  Pittsburgh. 

The  most  important  tributatries  are  Conneautee  Creek,  Cussewago 
Creek,  Conneautee  Lake  Creek,  and  Sugar  Creek.  West  of  French 
Creek  the  whole  country  is  so  eroded  that  few  of  the  uplands  ex- 
ceed 875  feet  above  the  lake  level.  These  tributaries  drain  south- 
ward from  the  divide  through  flat  valleys,  one  and  often  two  miles 
wide,  bordered  by  low  and  gently  rounded  hill  slopes,  and  separated 
by  low  Hat  table  lands.  Sugar  Creek,  the  largest  tributary  enter- 
ing French  Creek  on  the  east  side,  heads  in  two  branches  in  the 
southeastern  part  of  Crawford  County  in  drift  filled  valleys  and 
Hows  southward,  forming  a  continence  with  French  Creek  about  five 
miles  above  Franklin. 

The  fall  of  French  Creek  is  very  irregular,  due  in  a  measure  to 
its  exceedingly  winding  course.  From  the  watershed  of  these  head- 
waters to  Greenfield  the  rate  of  fall  is  about  thirty-three  feet,  to  the 
mile.  From  Greenfield  to  Wattsburg  the  rate  of  fall  is  about  nine 
feet  in  a  mile;  from  Wattsburg  to  the  forks,  the  rate  of  fall  is 
about  fourteen  feet  to  the  mile  and  from  the  forks  to  Franklin  a 
distance  of  sixty  miles,  the  rate  of  fall  is  four  feet  to  the  mile.  The 
northern  affluents  of  the  South  Branch  descend  from  the  highlands 
at  a  maximum  rate  of  sixty  feet  to  the  mile  while  the  rate  for  four 
miles  before  it  joins  the  North  Branch  is  only  three  and  a  half  feet 
to  the  mile.  A  gauging  of  this  creek  at  Carlton  on  September  27th, 
1908,  showed  the  minimum  discharge  to  be  sixty-four  second  feet. 

Rainfall  records  kept  at  Saegertown  for  fifteen  years  consecutively 
and.  at  Franklin  for  twenty  nine  complete  years  covering  a  total 
period  of  thirty-six  years  are  given  below  in  inches  per  annum. 


~ 

a 

a 

s 

a 

H 

<< 

Saegertown, 

Franklin,     . 


52.20 
59.79 


31.97 
31.70 


44.76 
42.94 


French  Creek  drains  an  area  of  1,180  square  miles  including  the 
southwestern  part  of  Chautauqua  County,  New  York,  the  central  and 
eastern  pa  its  of  Erie  County,  the  central  part  of  Crawford  County, 
the  extreme  northwestern  corner  of  Mercer  County  and  the  north- 
western part  of  Venango  County.  The  stream  is  a  sluggish  and  wind- 
ing one.    The  valley  is  generally  broad  and  the  bottom  lands  are  under 


124 


cultivation  to  a  considerable  extent.  Shoal  waters  and  a  rocky  bed 
afford  excellent  opportunities  for  fords.  In  the  vicinity  of  Meadville 
the  valley  of  French  Creek  is  wide  and  flat  and  part  of  the  city  is  sub- 
ject to  overflow.  Below  Meadville  during  dry  seasons,  the  stream  is 
a  succession  of  pools  and  shoals  and  sewage  is  afforded  an  oppor- 
tunity for  sedimentation  and  aeration.  This  accounts  for  lack  of 
evidence  of  sewage  pollution  in  some  of  the  samples  of  water  taken 
from  the  creek  at  Franklin. 

The  soils  of  this  district  while  they  often  yield  bountiful  crops 
are  best  adapted  for  grazing.  There  are  two  principal  classes  of 
soils,  one  derived  from  decomposition  of  drift  material  and  the  other 
originated  in  the  decay  of  vegetable  matter  in  the  vicinity  of  boggs 
and  swampis.  Soil  from  the  drift  is  strong,  clayey  and  gravelly,  rich 
in  fertilizing  elements  but  is  inclined  to  be  cold  and  wet  so  that  the 
land  has  to  be  thoroughly  drained  before  first  class  crops  can  be 
raised.  The  swamp  soils,  of  course,  require  draining,  but  they  pos- 
sess almost  inexhaustible  fertility.  The  total  population  of  this 
basin  is  72,820  divided  as  follows: 


Urban, 
Rural, 


S.2S0 


Pennsylvania. 


2S.260 
40,480 


The  rural  population  is  approximately  thirty-seven  to  the  square 
mile. 

The  only  municipalities  in  this  basin  with  a  population  over  1,000 
are  Meadville,  population  15,000,  Union  City,  population  4,000  and 
Cambridge  Spirings,  population  2,000. 

French  Creek  and  most  of  its  tributaries  have  been  stocked  with 
game  and  food  fish. 

French  Creek  is  largely  used  for  water  power,  operating  small 
mills  generally.  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  water  power  installa- 
tions, on  French  Creek  and  its  tributaries. 

Erie  County. 

French   Creek,    Wattsburg ,   25  H.P. 

French   Creek,    Mill  Village,    50  H.P. 

French    Creek,    Union  City,  100  H.P. 

West  Branch  French  Creek,   Lowville,    

Black  Run ,    Waterf ord ,    

Beaver  Run, Elgin,  40    H.P. 

Crawford  County. 

French   Creek,    Venango   (4  plants),    1  of    80  H.P 

French    Creek,    Saegertown  (3  plants) , ...  1  of  160  H.P. 

Little  Conneauttee  Creek,    Drakes  Mills,  75  H.P. 

Conneaut   Creek,    Geneva,  

125 


Counoaut    Creek Conneaut  Lake,  

Cussewago  Creek Meadville ]()0  H.P. 

.Mud.lv    Creek Little  Cooley, 50  H.P. 

Muddy    Creek Little  Cooler,  57  H.P. 

Woodcock  Creek,   »Meadville,   vicinity,   —  16  H.P. 

Woodcock  Creek Blooming  Valley,  31  H.P. 

Woodcock  Creek Saegertown  vicinity, 

Venango  County. 

French   Creek/ Franklin 100  H.P. 

East  Branch  Sugar  Creek,  Cooperstown  (2  plants).. 

During  the  period  of  activity  on  the  pari  of  the  State  in  the  con- 
struction  of  canals,  a  project  was  partly  carried  out  to  secure  trans- 
portation by  water  front  Franklin  by  way  of  French  Creek  and  Con- 
neaut  Lake  to  Lake  Erie  at  Erie.  Canals,  feeders,  dams  and  locks 
were  constructed  securing  eighteen  miles  of  slack  water  and  twenty- 
seven  miles  of  canal  navigation,  at  a  cost  of  $872,780.  This  was 
known  as  the  French  Creek  Division  and  Avas  operated  from  1834 
to  IS  15.  The  lower  portion,  which  has  never  been  much  used  was 
abandoned  in  1S45  and  the  same  year  the  uncompleted  French  Creek 
feeder  was  sold  to  the  Erie  Canal  Company.  Some  of  the  dams  in 
French  Creek  still  exist.  The  total  revenue  during  this  period  was 
$5,820  while  the  cost  of  operation  and  maintenance  was  $143,000. 

The  French  Creek  watershed  is  essentially  an  agricultural  region, 
though  the  lower  portion  produces  petroleum  and  natural  gas  in 
considerable  quantities.  Coal  is  not  found  except  in  few  isolated  de- 
posits, and  nowhere  of  sufficient  importance  to  warrant  extensive 
operations.  Meadville  is  the  principal  manufacturing  town  but  the 
industries  are  not  of  great  extent.  Transportation  facilities  are 
a  Horded  by  about  124  miles  of  railroad,  including  the  Western  Di- 
vision of  the  Pennsylvania,  the  main  line  of  the  Erie,  the  Franklin 
Branch  of  the  same  road,  a  branch  of  the  Bessemer  and  Lake  Erie 
and  a  small  portion  of  the  Lake  Shore  and  Michigan  Southern. 

Domestic  water  supplies  are  derived  generally  from  wells  or 
springs  and  in  a  few  instances  from  French  Creek.  Union  City  has 
a  municipal  water  works  system  deriving  its  supply  from  small  runs 
and  "springs  in  the  vicinity  augmented  at  times  by  French  Creek 
water.  At  Waterford  the  Waterford  Water  Company  supplies  a 
few  families  with  spring  water.  Cambridge  Springs  has  a  municipal 
water  system  using  French  Creek  water,  which  is  filtered  before  be- 
ing furnished  to  the  consumers.  Meadville  has  a  municipial  supply 
derived  from  drilled  wells,  while  French  Creek  water  may  be  used  in 
emergencies.  Cochranton  has  a  municipal  supply  derived  from  two 
springs. 


126 


A  number  of  municipalities  have  sewer  systems  of  greater  or  less 
extent  and  it  is  estimated  that  an  urban  population  of  20,000  persons 
contribute  domestic  sewage  to  the  waters  of  French  Creek  above  the 
cily  of  Franklin.  Industrial  waste  pollution  has  not  been  thoroughly 
investigated,  but  probably  the  most  important  wastes  are  those  from 
the  tannery  of  Boland  &  Ross  at  Cambridge  Springs  where  1.25  hides 
a  day  are  treated,  the  quality  of  wastes  being  characteristic  of  tan- 
neries and  amounting  to  probably  50,000  gallons  a  day. 

A  sanitary  analysis  made  of  French  Creek  water  at  Meadville 
and  a  mineral  analysis  made  of  French  Creek  at  Franklin  are  given 
in  Table  XXXVI: 

TABLE  XXXVI. 


Sanitary    Analysis   of    French    Creek 
at  Meadville,    May,    1901. 


Turbidity 

Color 

Odor 

ltesidue   on   Evaporation: 

Total 

Suspended,     

Dissolved 

Volatile 

Non-volatile 

Nitrogen    as    Album.     Am. 

Total 

Suspended,     

Dissolved,     

Free   Ammonia,    

Nitrites^    

Nitrates 

Chlorine 

Iron 

Tota  1   Hardness 

Alkalinity,     


Parts  per 
Million. 


75.00 

0.42 

Vegetable 

165.5 

96. 

69. 

33. 
i32. 

.286 

.108 

.178 

.040 

.003 

.240 

.400 

2.300 

25. CO 

30.00 


Mineral    Analysis    of    French    Creek 
at   Franklin  in   Nov.,    1909. 


Total     Solids 

Loss    on    Ignition,     

Alkalinity,     

Chlorine 

Sulphuric   oxide,    

(Calcium    Sulphate) 
Magnesium    Carbonate 


Parts  per 

Million. 


139.2 
8.4 
75.1 
28.7 
24.3 

3.6 


Sherman,  Chautauqua  County,  New  York,  is  an  incorporated  vil- 
lage with  a  population  of  800,  situated  at  the  extreme  head  waters 
of  French  Creek  near  the  boundary  line  of  the  three  watersheds. 
French  Creek,  Conewango  Creek  and  Lake  Erie.  It  is  estimated  that 
approximately  440  persons  contribute  either  directly  or  indirectly, 
sewage  to  the  waters  of  French  Creek. 

Wattsburg,  Erie  County,  Pennsylvania,  population  350,  is  a  bor- 
ough situated  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county  at  the  junction  of 
the  east  and  west  branches  of  West  Creek.  It  is  a  rural  community 
with  no  railroad  nearer  than  about  six  miles  and  has  no  industries 
of  importance.  There  are  a  small  planing  mill,  saw  mill,  and  flour 
mill  operated  by  water  power.  There  is  no  public  water  supply,  pri 
vate  driven  and  dug  wells  being  used  exclusively.  The  underlying 
formation  is  gravel  and  a  good  supply  of  water  is  found  at  depths 
not  exceeding  twenty  feet.  Dug  wells  are  not  generally  over  twelve 
feet  in  depth  and  the  water  is  soft,  the  level  of  the  wells  fluctuating 
somewhat  with  the  depth  of  water  in  French  Creek.  The  borough  has 
no  sewer  system  and  but  one  private  sewer  which  serves  a  hotel 


127 


ami  discharges  into  the  mill  race.  Surface  privies  are  in  general  use. 
Probably  thirty  persons  contribute  direct  or  indirect  pollution  to  the 
stream. 

Elgin,  Erie  County,  population  140,  is  a  borough  situated  on  the 
south  branch  of  French  Creek  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Erie 
County  with  qo  industries  of  note  Private  artesian  and  dug  wells 
supply  water  to  the  inhabitants,  there  heing  five  flowing  wells  drilled 
to  a  depth  of  from  100  to  300  feet.  There  is  no  public  sewer  system 
and  hut  one  private  sewer  discharging  sewage.  A  40  horsepower  de- 
velopment forms  a  pond  on  Beaver  Run  which  stream  receives  the 
most  of  the  drainage  of  the  borough,  entering  French  Creek  within 
the  borough  limits.  Kitchen  wastes  are  discharged  usually  to  the 
ground.  About  one-fourth  of  the  people  contribute  sewage  pollution 
to  the  creek  and  privies  are  in  general  use. 

Union  City,  Erie  County,  is  a  borough  with  about  4,000  population 
situated  near  the  southern  boundary  of  the  county  on  the  south 
branch  of  French  Creek,  it  is  a  manufacturing  community  having 
good  transportation  facilities  afforded  by  the  Erie  and  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Railroads.  Its  industries  comprise  the  Shreve  Chair  Com- 
pany. I'.")!*  employees.  Standard  Chair  Company  200  employees,  Nov- 
elty Wood  Works,  125  employees.  Union  City  Laundry  70  employees, 
Union  City  Chair  Works  300  employees,  planing  mills  and  flour  mills. 
The  municipal  water  system  derives  its  supply  from  Bentley  Run 
and  Limekiln  Run  and  springs,  augmented  at  times  by  water  pumped 
from  Little  French  Creek  at  a  point  in  the  heart  of  the  borough.  The 
public  generally  use  the  town  water  and  about  one-fourth  of  the  citi- 
zens are  partly  or  wholly  supplied  with  drinking  water  from  drilled 
or  driven  wells  and  a  few  dug  wells  and  springs.  Several  of  the 
industrial  plants  have  artesian  wells  for  drinking  water.  One  hun- 
dred horsepower  is  developed  at  a  water  power  installation  at  this 
point.  The  borough  is  partly  sewered,  the  drains  having  been  built 
by  the  borough  and  by  private  individuals.  Tt  is  reported  that  at 
present  all  of  the  sewers  are  recognized  as  belonging  to  the  borough 
and  all  carry  storm  water,  domestic  sewage,  and  manufactural 
wastes.  There  are  numerous  cesspools,  and  a  large  number  of  privies 
willi  percolating  vaults.  '  In  July  of  the  year  1912  there  were 
fifty-four  estates  from  which  drainage,  in  some  cases  from  closets, 
was  being  discharged  unto  the  gutter  and  along  the  highways.  The 
major  portion  of  the  sewage  pollution  is  contributed  by  nine  sewers 
below  the  dam  and  numerous  private  sewers  above.  About  a  thou- 
sand persons  are  so  served,  the  private  sewers  above  the  dam  pol- 
luting the  borough's  own  emergency  water  supply.  On  December 
3rd,  1908,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  issued  a  permit  for  the  con- 
struction of  certain  sewer  extension  and  required  the  immediate 
preparation  of  plans  for  a  comprehensive  system  of  sanitary  sewer- 
age and  sewage  purification  works. 

128 


Among  other  things  in  the  decree  of  1908,  the  Commissioner  of 
Health  made  the  following  statements: 

"The  use  of  Little  French  Creek  as  a  source  of  unfiltered  supply  to  the  inhabitants 
of  Union  City  borough  is  a  menace.  Public  health  demands  that  the  sources  of 
pollution  shall  be  discontinued  at  once.  It  is  equally  true  that  the  discharge  of 
sewage  into  the  stream  at  Union  City  borough  menaces  public  health  at  Cambridge 
Springs.  While  natural  agencies  tend  to  destroy  pathogenic  organisms  soon  after 
these  leave  their  normal  environments,  in  the  animal  body,  nevertheless,  some  of 
these  specific  poisons  may  live  for  many  days  in  water  and  thus  be  transported  to 
distant  points.  Fatal  epidemics  in  most  communities  have  been  caused  by  such 
transmission  of  infection.  The  State  Health  authorities  cannot  accept  the  situation 
as  protective  of  public  health  where  it  is  planned  to  continue  the  disehargeof 
sewage  into  a  running  stream  within  twenty-three  miles  of  and  above  the  point 
where  water  is  drawn  for  public  drinking  purposes.  And  besides,  all  along  the 
French  Creek,  above  Cambridge  Springs,  at  convenient  points  the  farmers  have 
a  right  which  must  be  respected,  to  water  their  stock  in  the  stream.  Sewage 
polluted  water  menaces  public  health  where  cattle  are  permitted  to  wade  in  and 
drink  contaminated  water. 

"On  August  first,  nineteen  hundred  aixd  six,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  sent  a 
letter  to  Union  City  Borough  Council.     The  following  is  a  copy  of  it: 

"'J.  A.  Hodgins,  President;  John  Sinnacher,  Frank  Camp,  E.  B.  Landswarth, 
Elmer  Foster,  Clark  Rice,  members  of  Borough  Council,  Union  City,  Erie  County, 
Pa. 

"  'Gentlemen:  Your  borough  is  on  French  Creek  and  its  sewers  discharge  into 
it  and  a  few  miles  below  the  borough  of  Cambridge  Springs  uses  this  water  for 
a   public   supply . 

"  'You  also  use  French  Creek  water  which  is  introduced  into  the  pipe  system  of 
your  borough  when  the  gravity  supply  is  insufficient.  This  use  of  the  creek  water 
is  a  menace  to  your  citizens  which  menace  may  be  materially  reduced  by  a  proper 
attention  to  the  occupation  of  the  watershed. 

"  'To  the  end  that  selfish  interests  of  municipalities  shall  not  jeopardize  the 
general  public  health,  a  law  has  been  passed  placing  the  oversight  of  sewerage 
systems  and  waterworks  in  the  State  Department  of  Health.  The  law  requires  the 
filing  of  plans  and  reports  with  respect  to  these  public  necessities,  and  you  have 
been  furnished  by  this  Department  with  blank  forms. 

"  'Up  to  this  time  you  have  paid  no  attention  to  this  matter  so  far  as  we  know. 
You  have  not  acknowledged  the  receipt  of  the  blanks.  My  Department  has  use  for 
the  information  called  for  and  unless  you  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  this  letter, 
expressing  your  purpose  with  respect  to  compliance  with  the  law,  I  shall  consider 
it  necessary  to  proceed  against  you  and  enforce  the  penalty.  I  trust  this  will  not 
be  necessary,  however,  but  that  as  law  abiding  citizens  of  the  Commonwealth  you 
will  extend  hearty  co-operation  since  the  benefits  will  accrue  to  the  benefit  of  the 
citizens  of  your  borough. 

"  'I  am,  very  truly  yours, 

'"SAMUEL    G.    DIXON.' 

"The  town  is  engaged  in  improving  its  water  supply,  which  is  a  public  necessity. 
The  assessed  valuation  of  property  in  the  borough  is  seven  hundred  and  eigh'tv 
thousand,  one  hundred  and  forty-four  dollars;  the  bonded  debt  is  thirty-four 
thousand,  four  hundred  and  twelve  dollars  and  twenty  cents,  and  there  is  author- 
ized a  bond  issue  of  seventeen  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  for  water  works 
extensions  and  other  improvements,  making  a  total  debt  of  practically  fiftv-two 
thousand  dollars,  which  is  within  twenty-five  hundred  dollars  of  the  constitutional 
limit  of  indebtedness  of  the  borough  at  this  time,  provided  these  figures  be  accurate. 
So  it  is  evident  that  the  town  cannot  of  its  own  resources,  build  a  sewage  disposal 
plant,  but  it  can  defray  the  cost  of  plans  for  intercepting  all  existing  sewer  outlets 
and  for  a  comprehensive  system  of  sanitary  sewerage  for  the  entire  town  and  submit 
these  plans  for  approval  to  the  State  Department  of  Health.  After  such  plans  have 
been  modified,  amended  or  approved  and  adopted,  the  borough  will  be  in  a  position 
to  economically  and  efficiently  abate  any  nuisance  or  menace  requiring  improved 
sewerage  facilities  and  do  it  in  compliance  with  the  adopted  plan. 

"Furthermore,  it  does  not  follow,  because  a  borough  lacks  the  necessary  mon^y 
to  abate  a  nuisance,  that  a  public  menace  shall  necessarily  be  permitted  to  exist 
There  are  numerous  places  in  Union  City  where  individuals  should  be  dealt  with 
in  abating  the  nuisance.  For  instance,  the  individual  discharge  of  sewage  into  the 
creek  above  the  dam  and  water  works  intake  is  absolutely  impermissible  and  must 
be  stopped  at  the  expense  of  the  individual.  The  Department  of  Health  will 
see  to  it  that  orders  are  issued  to  this  effect." 


129 


Waterford,  Erie  County,  is  a  borough  with  a  population  of  about 
800,  situated  ou  LeBoeuf  Greek  and  LeBoeuf  Lake,  a  body  of  water 
with  an  area  of  about  half  a  square  mile  and  about  two  miles  above 
the  confluence  of  the  creek  with  French  ('reek.  The  country  round 
about  is  wholly  agricultural  and  the  village  is  residential,  its  in- 
dustries comprising  a  carriage  shop,  blaeksmith  shop,  and  grist 
mill.  There  is  a  small  power  development  on  Black  Bun.  The  do- 
mestic water  supply  is  generally  obtained  from  dug  wells  on  indi- 
vidual properties,  but  the  Waterford  Water  Company  operates  a 
gravity  supply  from  springs  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  borough 
and  supplies  about  forty  families  and  ten  fire  hydrants.  A  permit  was 
issued  by  the  Commissioner  of  Health  to  the  Water  Company  on 
April  30th,  L908.  There  are  no  public  sewers  and  but  one  private 
sewer,  this  leading  from  the  hotel  to  a  swamp  in  the  northwestern 
part  of  the  borough.  Domestic  waste  from  dwellings  is  discharged 
into  cesspools  and  privies  and  the  underlying  subsoil  being  of  a 
clayey,  retentive  nature,  there  is  apparently  little  danger  of  subsoil 
pollution  of  the  numerous  dug  wells.  It  is  estimated  that  forty-five 
persons  contribute  pollution  to  the  creek. 

Mill  Milage,  Erie  County,  population  about  320,  is  situated  near 
the  southern  border  of  the  county  on  Avery  Run  near  French  Creek. 
A  creamery  is  its  only  industry.  There  is  no  public  water  system,  the 
inhabitants  deriving  their  water  for  domestic-  purposes  from  driven 
and  drilled  wells  and  a  fewr  private  springs.  There  are  no  sewers 
except  one  from  a  hotel  discharging  sewage  into  Avery  Run.  Kitchen 
wastes  are  generally  discharged  on  the  ground  and  in  a  few  instances 
direct  to  the  run.  Two  cesspools  are  in  use.  Several  privies  are  on 
the  bank  of  Avery  Run. 

-  Townville,  Crawford  County,  population  500,  is  a  borough  situated 
in  the  central  part  of  the  county  on  a  small  run  near  the  headwaters 
of  Muddy  Creek.  The  latter  stream  flows  in  a  northwesterly  direc- 
1  ion  entering  French  Creek  about  four  miles  above  Cambridge  Springs. 
Its  industries  are  unimportant,  comprising  a  blacksmith  shop  and 
a  small  cheese  factory.  The  borough  has  no  public  water  system, 
about  one-half  of  the  population  deriving  their  supply  from  springs 
and  the  others  from  drilled  and  dug  Avells.  There  is  no  public  sewer 
system,  but  there  are  four  individual  sewers  to  the  run  discharging 
sewage,  beside  which  there  are  some  twelve  pollutions,  mainly  small 
sewers  discharging  kitchen  wastes.  The  wastes  from  the  cheese 
factory  are  to  a  nine-inch  sewer. 

Cambridge  Springs,  Crawford  County,  is  a  borough  with  a  normal 
population  of  about  1,800,  increasing  during  the  summer  months 
to  about  4.500,  the  average  population  being  in  the  neighborhood  of 
2,000.  The  principal  interest  of  the  borough  centres  around  the 
existence  of  a   number  of  mineral  springs  noted  for  their  curative 


120 


properties,  and  a  number  of  large  hotels  which  accommodate  the 
transient  population  attracted  by  the  springs  during  summei  months. 
There  is  a  tannery  here,  owned  by  Boland  &  Ross,  which  handles 
about  125  green  hides  a  day  using  extract  in  the  tanning  process, 
lime  for  dehairing,  and  a  small  amount  of  acid  for  bleaching.  This 
borough  has  a  municipal  water  works  system  pumping  water  from 
French  Creek.  Formerly  this  water  was  delivered  to  a  125,000 
gallon  wooden  standpipe,  and  thence  by  gravity  to  the  consumers. 
Five  wells  were  drilled  and  put  in  service,  but  later  abandoned  as 
the  water  was  unpalatable.  Most  of  the  drinking  water,  however, 
was  derived  from  many  private  driven  wells  scattered  throughout  the 
town,  the  public  in  general  realizing  the  danger  of  drinking  the  French 
Creek  water.  In  response  to  a  demand  by  the  State  authorities,  the 
borough  has  installed  a  mechanical  filtration  plant  for  the  purifica- 
tion of  the  French  Creek  supply,  and  on  August  15th,  1907,  and 
October  2nd,  1907,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  issued  permits  for 
the  construction  of  the  filtration  works  and  the  use  of  the  filtered 
supply  from  French  Creek.  The  borough  has  a  public  sewer  system 
built  without  regard  to  any  definite  comprehensive  plan  and  without 
consideration  of  its  relation  to  the  public  water  supply.  There  are 
three  main  sewer  outlets,  one  of  which  is  above  the  waterworks  in- 
take and  is  twenty-four  inches  in  diameter,  serving  a  permanent 
population  of  about  600  and  a  summer  population  of  about  2,600. 
The  other  two  outlets  are  eighteen  inches  in  diameter.  The  public 
sewers  serve  approximately  two-thirds  of  the  permanent  population, 
the  remainder  using  privies.  Decrees  were  issued  by  the  Commis- 
sioner of  Health  on  April  29th,  1907,  July  1st,  1908,  and  October  9th, 
1908,  approving  certain  sewer  extensions,  including  a  project  for 
changing  the  point  of  discharge  of  the  sewer  with  outlet  above  the 
water  works  intake  to  a  point  below.  Aside  from  the  sewage  pollution 
coming  from  the  borough  which  may  be  considered  as  being  con- 
tributed by  at  least  1,500  persons  continuously,  there  is  a  tannery 
waste  pollution  amounting  to  50,000  gallons  a  day,  roughly  estimated. 
Edinboro,  Erie  County,  population  900,  is  situated  in  the  south- 
western part  of  Erie  County  at  the  lower  end  of  a  small  body  of 
water  known  as  Conneauttee  Lake  and  on  its  outlet,  Conneauttee 
Creek,  which  enters  French  Creek  a  short  distance  below  Cambridge 
Springs.  Aside  from  farming,  the  chief  interest  of  the  borough 
centres  about  the  State  Normal  School,  connected  with  which  there 
are  about  500  scholars  and  teachers.  The  domestic  water  supply  for 
Edinboro  is  derived  mostly  from  driven  wells  and  partly  from  two 
dug  wells.  One  private  system  supplies  six  properties  and  another 
some  seventeen  properties  with  ground  water.  Outside  privies  and 
about  a  dozen  cesspools  are  used  by  a  large  portion  of  the  inhabi- 
tants.   There  are  also  three  private  outlet  sewers,  two  of  which  dis- 


131 


charge  the  sewage  from  the  Normal  School.  In  response  to  an  ap- 
plication from  the  borough  authorities  to  increase  the  sewerage  facil- 
ities by  the  construction  of  certain  sewers, the  Commissioner  of  Health 
issued  a  decree  on  April  29th,  1907,  withholding  approval  of  sewer 
extensions  until  such  time  as  the  borough  shall  have  submitted  plans 
for  a  comprehensive  sewerage  system  and  disposal  works. 

Woodcock,  Crawford  County,  population  110,  is  a  small  rural 
community  without  water  works  or  sewers.  Water  is  derived  from 
private  dug  wells,  privies  are  in  general  use,  and  kitchen  waste  is 
discharged  to  the  ground.  A  small  cheese  factory  and  a  slaughter 
house  within  the  borough  limits  are  the  only  industries  noted.  There 
appears  to  be  no  pollution,  either  domestic  or  industrial,  of  the  waters 
of  the  State  by  this  borough. 

Venango,  Crawford  County,  population  230,  is  a  borough  situated 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  county  on  the  west  side  of  French  Creek 
and  about  three  miles  south  of  Cambridge  Springs.  A  cheese  factory, 
employing  eight  persons,  and  a  grist  mill  are  the  only  industries  in 
the  borough.  Water  is  derived  from  private  driven  and  drilled 
wells.  There  are  four  water  power  developments  reported  in  or  near 
Venango  on  French  Creek,  one  of  them  developing  80  H.  P.  There 
are  no  sewers  except  one  storm  sewer  eight  inches  in  diameter. 
Privies  are  in  general  use. 

Blooming  Valley,  Crawford  County,  population  150,  is  a  borough 
situated  on  Heronhead  creek,  a  small  tributary  of  Woodcock  Creek 
which  latter  stream  enters  French  Creek  at  Saegerstown.  There  is 
a  water  power  development  on  Woodcock  Creek  of  about  30  H.  P. 
The  borough  has  no  public  water  system,  the  inhabitants  using  private 
drilled  and  driven  wells  and  a  few  springs.  There  are  no  sewers. 
Kitchen  wastes  are  discharged  generally  to  the  ground. 

Saegertown,  Crawford  County,  population  990,  is  a  borough  situ- 
a ted  on  French  Creek  a  few  miles  above  Meadville,  Within  the  bor- 
ough is  the  Crawford  County  Home  with  ninety-two  inmates.  The 
Saegertown  Inn,  a  health  resort,  owns  mineral  springs  and  a  bottling 
establishment  is  connected  therewith.  There  is  also  a  flour  mill  here. 
There  ai  e  three  water  power  installations  in  or  near  the  borough,  one 
of  them  developing  100  H.  P.,  all  on  French  Creek.  There  is  no  water 
system,  the  inhabitants  being  supplied  from  driven  and  drilled  wells 
and  a  few  dug  wells  and  springs.  There  are  a  few  storm  sewers,  but 
no  sanitary  sewers  except  a  small  number  belonging  to  individuals. 
Of  the  private  sewers,  four  are  from  the  Inn  property,  three  to  French 
Creek,  and  one  to  a  storm  sewer.  One  other  private  sewer  enters 
a  public  storm  sewer,  and  one  enters  the  mill  race. 

Meadville,  Crawford  County,  population  15,530,  a  city  of  the  third 
class  and  the  county  seat,  is  situated  near  the  central  part  of  the 
countv  on  French  Creek,     ft  is  a  distinctly  residential  community 


132 


in  an  agricultural  district  with  few  industries  of  extensive  im- 
portance. Tlie  Phoenix  Iron  Mills  and  the  Meadville  Malleable 
Iron  Company  have  the  largest  plants,  beside  which  there  are  boiler, 
vice,  tool,  and  corset  works,  a  distillery,  brewery,  saw  mill,  and 
grist  mill.  A  water  power  installation  on  Cussewago  Creek  de- 
velopes  100  horsepower.  There  are  two  institutions  of  learning 
of  considerable  importance,  Allegheny  College,  with  400  to  500 
students,  and  the  Unitarian  Theological  Seminary.  The  city  owns 
its  own  water  works,  electric  light  plant,  sewerage  system,  and 
garbage  crematory.  The  public  water  supply  is  drawn  from  about 
twenty  driven  wells  and  from  French  Creek  for  emergency  uses, 
but  since  1904  the  French  Creek  water  has  been  used  only  on  one  or 
two  occasions.  The  city  has  a  comprehensive  system  of  sewers  re- 
ceiving sanitary  sewage  and  only  such  storm  water  as  falls  on  the 
roofs  of  buildings.  The  sewerage  system  aggregates  eighteen  miles 
of  sanitary  sewers  with  tAvo  outlets  respectively  thirty-six  inches 
and  twelve  inches  in  diameter  in  addition  to  which  there  are  about 
two  miles  of  private  sewers.  Sewage  is  discharged  by  gravity 
during  all  but  high  stages  of  French  Creek,  at  which  time  the  sewage 
from  the  larger  outfall  is  pumped  by  means  of  an  electrically 
operated,  centrifugal  pump  with  a  capacity  of  about  4,000,000  gal- 
lons daily.  Cesspools  and  privies  are  commonly  used,  the  sewage 
of  only  about  8,000  persons  being  discharged  through  the  public 
system.  On  December  14,  1906.  the  Commissioner  of  Health 
issued  a  permit  to  the  city  of  Meadville  for  the  extension  of  certain 
sewers  and  requiring  the  preparation  of  plans  for  a  comprehensive 
sanitary  system  and  sewage  disposal  works.  There  are  no  manu- 
factural  wastes  of  importance  contributed  by  the  industries  of  Mead- 
ville. 

In  a  decree  dated  May  1911  issued  to  the  city  of  Meadville  relative 
to  sewerage  in  response  to  an  application  for  approval  of  plans  for  a 
comprehensive  system  of  sewers  and  sewage  disposal  works  the  Com- 
missioner of  Health  had  the  following  to  say: 

"The  plans,  with  the  report  and  specifications,  which  are  hereinbefore  reviewed, 
were  accepted  by  the  city  of  Meadville  in  a  joint  session  of  councils  on  November 
eighteenth,  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  eight.  In  October,  one  thousand  nine 
hundred  and  ten,  the  reported  total  assessed  property  valuation  of  the  city 
amounted  to  three  million  seven  hundred  and  ninety-nine  thousand  and  ninety-eight 
dollars.  On  this  date  the  city  had  a  bonded  indebtedness  of  two  hundred  and 
seventy-six  thousand  dollars  towards  the  payment  of  which  there  is  a  sinking  fund 
of  one  hundred  and  one  thousand,  five  hundred  and  thirteen  dollars,  leaving"  a  net 
bonded  debt  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-four  thousand,  four  hundred  and  eighty- 
seven  dollars.  The  city  can,  therefore,  borrow  about  ninety-one  thousand  dollars 
before  the  seven  per  cent,  limit  ot  municipal  indebtedness  permitted  by  law  is 
exceeded .  The  sum  of  five  thousand  dollars  is  being  set  aside  annually  and  placed 
on  interest  as  a  fund  for  the  construction  of  a  sewage  disposal  plant,  the  first 
installment  of  this  fund  having  been  made  in  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  nine. 
In  all  probability  the  city  will  be  able  to  cancel  the  first  issue  of  municipal  water 
bonds,  amounting  to  one  hundred  and  eighty-eight  thousand  dollars  in  about  six 
years,  and  its  borrowing  capacity  will  be  increased  by  this  amount.  At  the  end 
of  this  six  year  period,  moreover,  the  sewage  disposal  works  fund  will  amount 
to  thirty-five  thousand  dollars. 

133 


"At  the  present  time  the  city  is  financially  unable  to  assume  the  expense  of 
making  all  of  the  sewerage  improvements  called  for  in  the  design  submitted. 
There  appears  to  be  an  argent  need  for  the  installation  of  sewers  iu  the  Fifth 
Ward  and  this  portion  of  the  proposed  work  will  probably  be  first  taken  care  of. 
It  appears,  however,  that  under  the  estimate  of  cost  prepared  by  the  experts, 
the  city  can  install  the  proposed  Fifth  Ward  sewer  system  complete,  build  and 
equip  the  various  pumping  stations,  lay  the  force  mams  and  construct  the  pre- 
liminary settling  tank  of  the  disposal  works  for  the  sum  of  sixty-eight  thousand 
live  hundred  dollars.  'Phis  amount  deducted  from  the  ninety  one  thousand  dollars 
liable,  Leaves  a  balance  of  twenty-two  thousand  live  hundred  dollars,  to  which 
should  be  added  the  ten  thousand  dollars  already  accumulated  in  the  sewage 
disposal  plant  fund,  making  a  total  of  thirty  two  thousand  live  hundred  dollars 
available  for  building  the  balance  of  the  plant.  As  much  of  this  sura  as  is 
necessary  could  be  applied  to  the  construction  of  a  germicidal  dosing  plant  and 
the  sewage  from  the  city,  treated  in  the  preliminary  settling  tank  and  suitably 
dosed,  could  then  be  discharged  into  French  Creek  until  such  time  as  its  linances 
would  permit  the  city  t<-  complete  the  balance  of  the  sewage  purification  works. 
An  increase  of  the  city's  indebtedness  in  an. amount  suliicient  for  the  sewerage 
improvements  outlined  will  have  to  be  authorized  by  a  vote  of  the  electors. 

"Or  it  might  be  feasible  for  the  city  to  enter  into  an  agreement  with  a  con- 
tractor who,  for  a  sum  of  money  to  be  paid  by  the  city  annually  for  a  period  of 
years,  would  make  the  necessary  extensions  to  the  sewer  system,  build  the 
pumping  stations  and  sewage  disposal  plant  and  operate  the  latter  until  such 
time  as  a  sufficient  amount  is  paid  to  cover  the  cost  of  the  construction  and 
operation  of  the  plant,  when  it  would  revert  to  the  city.  This  method  was  em- 
ployed at  Heading,  Pennsylvania,  and  that  municipality,  under  its  contract, 
will  at  the  end  of  a  stated  period  own  its  sewage  disposal  works.  The  necessity 
for  the  city  of  Meadville  to  purify  its  sewage  has  been  fully  set  forth  in  the  permit 
issued  to  the  city  by  the  Commissioner  of  Health  on  September  14th,  1906." 

Conneaut  Lake,  formerly  Evansburg,  Crawford  County,  population 
340,  is  a  borough  situated  at  the  southern  end  of  Conneaut  Lake  near 
its  outlet.  Aside  from  the  harvesting  and  storing  of  ice,  the  indus- 
tries arc  of  little  or  no  importance.  A  small  water  power  develop- 
ment exists  on  Conneaut  Lake  Creek,  the  outlet  of  the  Lake.  There 
is  no  public  water  system,  about  three-fifths  of  the  population  de- 
pending on  driven  wells  and  the  remainder  on  dug  wells.  A  twelve 
inch  public  sewer,  nominally  a  storm  sewer,  receives  some  sanitary 
sewage,  but  aside  from  this,  there  are  no  public  sewers.  Kitchen 
waste  is  generally  discharged  to  the  ground  and  in  a -few  instances 
to  highways  or  a  small  run. 

Geneva,  Crawford  County,  population  220,  is  a  borough  situated 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  county  on  Conneaut  Lake  Creek,  which 
drains  Conneaut  Lake  and  empties  into  French  Creek.  The  drainage 
from  the  town  readies  the  stream  by  way  of  Marsh  Run.  The  only 
industry  noted  is  a  cider  mill  and  preserving  factory.  Water  is  de- 
rived from  private  drilled  wells  and  a  few  dug  wells  and  springs.  The 
borough  has  no  public  sewer  system  and  only  two  or  three  private 
sewers  from  individual  properties.  Kitchen  wastes  are  discharged 
for  the  most  part  to  the  ground  and  in  a  few  instances  to  the  run.  The 
wastes  from  the  preserving  and  cider  mill  produce  disagreeable 
odors  and  a  nuisance  in  the  run  near  by. 

Cochranton,  Crawford  County,  population  040,  is  a  borough 
situated  on  French  Creek  near  the  southern  boundary  of  the  county. 
Its  industries  are  small,  comprising  a  machine  shop,  a  saw  mill,  a 
handle  factory,  and  a  grist  mill.  The  borough  lias  a  public  water 
system  deriving  a  gravity  supply  from  two  springs,  the  surplus  over- 
flowing to  a  tank  reservoir  with  a  capacity  of  100,000  gallons.    Cess- 

134 


pools  of  good  construction  are  in  general  use  and  though  there  are  no 
sewers,  it  is  reported  that  there  are  no  pollutions  of  the  stream  by 
sewage  or  industrial  wastes. 

New  Lebanon,  Mercer  County,  is  a  borough  with  a  population  of 
about  300  situated  in  the  northeastern  part  of  Mercer  County  at  the 
head  waters  of  Mill  Creek,  a  tributary  entering  French  Creek  at 
Utica,  Venango  County.  It  is  an  agricultural  community  deriving 
its  water  supply  from  dug  or  driven  wells  or  springs  on  individual 
properties.  There  are  no  sewers  with  the  exception  of  four  private 
drains  discharging  kitchen  waste  from  individual  properties  to  the 
highway. 

Utica,  Venango  County,  population  300,  is  a  borough  situated  on 
French  Creek  about  nine  miles  from  its  confluence  with  the  Allegheny 
River  at  Franklin.  It  has  no  industries  and  no  waterworks  nor  sewer 
system.  Cesspools  are  scarce  and  kitchen  waste  is  discharged  to  the 
ground  or  to  the  creek.  There  are  three  private  sewers  from  in- 
dividual properties  discharging  sewage  into  the  creek. 

Cooperstown,  Venango  County,  population  350,  is  situated  in  the 
northwestern  part  of  the  county  on  Sugar  Creek  about  six  miles  from 
its  junction  with  French  Creek.  There  are  two  water  power  in- 
stallations of  minor  extent  on  Sugar  Creek  at  this  point.  Individual 
wells  and  a  few  springs  form  the  water  supply.  The  only  sewers  are 
two  twelve  inch  storm  drains  discharging  into  Sugar  Creek,  and  one 
private  sewer.    Kitchen  wastes  are  discharged  to  the  ground. 

(c)  Typhoid  Fever.  The  typhoid  fever  cases  reported  by  the  local 
authorities  for  this  section  of  the  Allegheny  Basin  to  the  State  De- 
partment of  Health  for  the  years  1906  to  1912  inclusive  are  shown 
in  the  following  table: 

TABLE  XXXVII. 

Typhoid  Fever  Cases  Reported  for  the  Section  of  the  Allegheny  Basin  from  French 
Creek  to  the  Clarion  River,  1906 — 1912,  inclusive. 


Meadville,     , 

Cambridge  Springs, 
Conneaut     Lake, 

Cochranton,    

Geneva,     

Blooming    Valley, 

f-'ae.gertown,     

Venango,    

Union    City 

Edinboro,     

Mill  Village 

Sloneboro 

Franklin 

Polk, 

Emlenton 


1906. 

1907. 

1908. 

1909. 

1910. 

1911. 

29 

28 

10 

1 

4 

7 

0 

0 

3 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

3 

0 

1 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

5 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

3 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

3 

6 

10 

1 

4 

8 

1 

0 

0 

1 

0 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1 

0 

s 

2 

1 

0 

0 

1 

79 

S3 

2S 

25 

51 

54 

25 

4 

3 

6 

6 

5 

9 

7 

6 

1 

15 

9 

135 


Section  11. — ClaHon  Hirer  to  Red  Hani:  Creel:. 

(a)  Along  the  Allegheny  River.  For  twenty-one  miles  below  Fox- 
burg  and  the  (Marion  River  the  Allegheny  Hows  in  a  south  by  east 
direction,  in  a  winding  course  along;  the  western  border  of  Clarion 
County  to  i In*  point  where  it  is  joined  by  Red  Bank  Creek.  Through- 
out the  greater  part  of  this  section  the  valley  is  bordered  by  rocky, 
wooded  banks  with  narrow  strips  of  bottom  land  alternating  on 
each  side.  Gentle  hill  slopes,  followed  closely  by  slopes  more  abrupt 
are  characteristic.  The  pools  in  this  part  of  the  river  are  quite  deep 
and  the  beds  of  some  of  them  are  composed  of  large  fragments 
of  rocks  brought  down  and  dropped  by  ice.  Above  Parker  there  are 
no  coal  mines  but  below  they  are  numerous  throughout  the  course  of 
the  river.  Below  East  Brady  are  many  rugged  ravines,  and  high 
wooded  bluffs  line  the  east  bank  of  the  river  to  Red  Bank  Creek.  The 
population  of  this  part  of  the  Allegheny  River  basin  is  10,580  divided 
as  follows:  urban  4,240,  rural  6,340.  The  principal  towns  in  this 
section  are  East  Brady  and  Parker,  each  with  a  population  of  about 
1,300.  During  the  height  of  the  oil  excitement,  Parker  was  a  city  of 
several  thousand  inhabitants. 

This  stretch  of  the  Allegheny  River  has  been  stocked  with  the  same 
kind  of  fish  as  the  stretches  above  described. 

Relative  to  industrial  occupations,  the  production  of  oil  and  coal 
form  the  dominant  interests  through  this  section  of  the  river.  Bitu- 
minous coal  mines  begin  to  appear  in  increasing  numbers  as  one  pro- 
ceeds down  the  river  and  are  found  scattered  along  its  banks  from 
Parker  to  Pittsburgh.  There  are  twenty-nine  mines  reported  within 
the  drainage  area  tributary  to  this  section  of  the  river  and  the 
principal  manufacturing  plants  are  the  woolen  mills  of  East  Brady. 
Railroads,  aggregating  forty-three  miles,  traverse  this  division  of  the 
watershed,  including  the  Allegheny  division  of  the  Pennsylvania  fol- 
lowing the  east  bank  of  the  river  and  branches  of  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  and  of  the  Bessemer  and  Lake  Erie  in  the  territory  west  of  the 
river.  There  are  but  two  public  water  supply  systems,  namely  at 
Parker  and  East  Brady.  The  Parker  suppfly  is  derived  from  the  river 
and  passes  through  a  filter.  The  East  Brady  supply  is  derived  from 
a  spring  and  a  drilled  well. 

Domestic  sewage  pollution  is  contributed  by  an  urban  population 
estimated  at  3,370.  The  numerous  oil  wells  constitute  an  important 
polluting  factor.  Of  the  twenty-nine  existing  coal  mines,  three  re- 
quire  pumps  to  dispose  of  their  drainage  and  discharge  sulphur  im- 
pregnated water  at  an  average  combined  rate  of  about  560  gallons  a 
minute.  The  remaining  mines  have  natural  drainage  discharging 
1,400  gallons  a  minute.  Some  pollution  exists  at  the  woolen  mills 
at  East  Brady. 

136 


Parker,  Armstrong  Comity,  is  a  city  of  the  third  class,  probably 
the  smallest  city  in  Pennsylvania,  its  population  being  aboul  L,300. 
In  1900,  its  papulation  was  1,070,  in  L890  it  was  1317,  in  1880,  it 
was  1835  and  in  1870  it  was  7,000.  It  was  incorporated  in  1872,  at 
which  time  it  was  a  very  active  oil  ecu  tie  and  as  the  oil  excitemenl 
abated,  the  population  decreased.  The  city  is  on  the  western  shore  of 
the  Allegheny  River  on  a  low  strip  of  land  along  the  bank,  bark  of 
which  rises  a  precipitous  bluff,  the  city  boundaries  including  a  por- 
tion of  the  table  land  at  the  top  as  well  as  the  low  land  along  the 
river.  Its  industries  at  the  present  time  comprise  the  Thomas  Whit- 
man Glass  Company,  employing  about  110  persons,  the  -  Parker 
Specialty  Works,  employing  about  seven,  and  a  pumping  station  of  the 
Standard  Oil  Company  at  the  mouth  of  Bear  Creek  at  the  lower  end 
of  the  city.  Water  is  supplied  by  the  Parker  City  Water  Company, 
a  corporation  deriving  its  supply  from  a  plank  crib  in  the  Allegheny 
River  some  distance  from  shore.  The  water  was  formerly  strained 
and  partially  clarified  in  a  small  "filter"  and  thence  delivered  to  four 
tanks  in  the  higher  parts  of  the  town,  whose  capacities  are  from 
32,000  to  40,000  gallons  each  and  distributed  through  a  system  rang- 
ing in  size  from  two  to  four  inches.  The  so  called  "filter"  was  not 
adequate  properly  to  protect  the  consumers  in  view  of  the  polluted 
character  of  the  river  at  this  point  and  a  modern  filter  plant  has  been 
installed  by  order  of  the  Commissioner  of  Health.  There  are  about 
1,000  consumers  and  the  per  capita  rate  is  about  sixty  gallons  a  day. 
Many  private  wells  supply  the  remaining  people.  The  Standard  Oil 
Company  derives  a  private  supply  from  the  river  at  the  pumping 
station,  for  use  in  the  boilers.  The  city  has  no  public  sewer  system 
and  owing  to  the  unsanitary  conditions  arising  from  the  discharge  of 
a  large  number  of  private  sewers  on  the  slopes  and  into  the  waters  of 
the  river  and  several  runs,  the  city  authorities  were  compelled  to 
build  some  public  sewers.  Cesspools  are  largely  used,  in  many  cases 
endangering  private  wells,  and  kitchen  wastes  and  sewage  are  fre- 
quently discharged  into  the  street  gutters.  Practically  the  entire 
population  of  1,500  piersons  contributes  domestic  sewage  to  the  river. 
The  industrial  wastes  are  of  little  or  no  importance. 

It  was  on  January  28th  1911,  that  the  State  Department  of  Health 
took  charge  of  the  control  and  supervision  of  a  typhoid  fever  out- 
break at  Parker  City.  At  the  end  of  February  there  had  been  eighty- 
four  eases  and  five  deaths  resulting  from  the  pollution  of  the  public 
water  supply  by  typhoid  infection  discharged  into  the  river  at  points 
above  the  water  works  intake  within  the  city  and  possibly  from  the 
pollution  of  the  river  water  at  other  points  above.  Temporary  ap- 
paratus was  set  up|  in  the  pumping  station  and  water  in  the  filtered 
water  chamber  was  treated  with  hypochlorite  of  lime.  This  treatment 
was  continued  by  the  water  company  under  the  direction  of  the  De- 

137 


partmeni  until  the  water  company  had  prepared  plans  for  a  modern 
filtration  plant,  obtained  approval  of  the  same  and  erected  the  filter 
plant  and  put  it  into  operation. 

In  March  191 1,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  issued  a  decree  relative 
to  sewontge  to  Parker  City  which  contained  among  other  things  the 
following  discussion: 

"Although  until  recently  little  interest  has  been  taken  in  improving  sanitary 
conditions,  people  imw  have  waked  up  to  a  better  realizing  sense  of  the  danger 
of  maintaining  private  .sewer  outlets  into  the  river  above  the  town's  water  works 
intake. 

The  extremely  unsanitary  conditions  at  the  foot  of  the  bluffs  is  due  to  the 
discharge  of  sewage  above  and  should  be  stopped.  During  the  summer  months 
Church  Run  is  nearly  dry  and  the  sewage  discharged  into  it  from  private  dwellings 
forms  pools  Mud  pollutes  the  banks  until  rain  comes  and  washes  it  away.  Cess 
pools  and  abandoned  wells  in  proximity  to  the  private  wells  from  wheh  water 
is  drawn  for  drinking  are  used  as  receptacles  for  sewage  thus  imperiling  the 
health  of  those  who  drink  the  water  drawn  from  neighborhood  wells.  What  is 
needed  in  Parker  to  prevent  other  epidemics,  is  the  discontinuance  of  the  discharge 
of  sewage  into  State  waters,  except,  possibly,  the  river  at  one  point  below  the 
water  works  intake,  the  abandonment  of  a  number  of  wells  on  private  properties, 
and  more  attention  paid  to  the  enforcement  of  health  rules  and  regulations. 

"From  the  city  of  Parker  down  stream  to  the  mouth  of  the  Allegheny  River  at 
Pittsburgh,  a  large  number  of  towns  use  the  water  for  drinking  purposes.  At 
the  borough  of  Kittanuing  about  thirty-one  miles  down  stream,  approximately 
six  thousand  people  rely  upon  the  river  for  the  supply.  At  the  borough  of  Ford 
City,  about  ten  miles  further  down  stream,  the  river  water  is  served  to  over 
four  thousaod  people,  after  having  passed  through  a  gravel  crib  in  the  bed  of  the 
river.  At  Freeport,  fifty-three  miles  below  Parker  City,  filtered  river  water  is 
supplied  to  the  inhabitants,  and  from  Freeport  to  Pittsburgh,  a  distance  of  about 
thirty  miles,  in  the  neighborhood  of  about  six  hundred  thousand  people  rely  upon 
the  river  water  for  all  domestic  purposes. 

"So  not  only  is  public  health  in  Parker  imperiled  by  the  city's  own  sewage,  but 
the  health  of'  the  public  in  towns  farther  down  stream  is  more  or  less  menaced 
bv  Parker's  sewage.  It  is  the  State's  policy  to  preserve  the  purity  of  the  waters 
of  the  Allegheny  and  plans  must  be  devised  by  the  towns  along  its  banks  to 
ultimately  discontinue  the  discharge  of  sewage  into  the  river. 

"At  Parker,  one  of  the  first  things  to  be  done  is  to  construct  an  intercepting 
sewer  along  the  river  flats  to  take  the  flow  from  all  private  sewers  now  emptying 
into  the  river  above  the  water  works  intake  and  to  convey  this  sewage  into  the 
river  below  said  water  works  intake.  This  should  be  done  in  such  a  manner  that 
this  intercepting  sewer  shall  be  a  part  of  the  complete  system  of  sanitary  sewerage 
for  the  entire  borough  and  as  a  part  of  a  plan  for  the  ultimate  treatment  of  the 
town's  sewage.  To  carry  out  such  an  idea  means  the  employment  by  the  city  of 
an  engineer  skilled  in  the  design  and  construction  of  such  works  and  when  the 
plans  are  prepared,  they  should  be  submitted  to  the  Commissioner  of  Health  for 
approval  If  the  local*  authorities  neglect  to  proceed  in  this  manner,  then  the 
State  will  be  forced  to  compel  every  owner  and  user  of  a  private  sewer  to  discontinue 
the  discharge  into  State  waters  and  to  dispose  of  the  sewage  at  his  own  proper 
cost  and  expense.  Probably  this  will  mean  the  building  of  large  water  tight 
vaults  at  each  property  and  the  pumping  out  of  the  contents  at  regular  intervals 
and  its  cartage  away  to  some  more  extended  area  where  it  can  be  filtered  and 
purified  without  endangering  public  health.  This  would  mean  also  that  properties 
connected  to  the  storm  drains  must  sever  the  connection  for  any  sewage. 

"Th<-  State  has  compelled  the  water  company  to  build  a  modern  water  purification 
plant    and    plans   for    this   improvement   are    now   before    the    Department   for    ac- 

"In  considering  a  comprehensive  sewerage  system  and  site  for  disposal  works, 
the  Department  will  be  glad  to  advise  and  consult  with  the  boroughs  expert.  In 
the  matter  of  the  selection  of  a  site  for  the  disposal  works,  the  choice  is  limited, 
owing  to  the  close  approach  of  the  bluff  to  the  river  shore  at  the  lower  end  of  the 
citv  It  will  probablv  be  necessary  to  pump  the  sewage  from  the  lower  portion  of  the 
city' to  the  disposal  works  whatever  site  is  selected.  It  is  also  possible  that  the 
sewage  from  the  upper  districts  can  be  delivered  by  gravity  to  the  works. 
'  "The  discharge  of  sewage  over  the  blufs  and  into  the  runs  must  be  discontinued. 
If  the'  requisite  money  is  not  forthcoming  to  do  this  by  a  public  system  at  first, 
then  the  cost  must  be  assumed  by  the  individual  property  owner.  But  in  the  consid- 
er! tion  of  the  entire  subject ,  the  local  authorities  will  find  considerable  aid  to  a 
conclusion  in  having  in  their  possession  plans  for  a  comprehensive  sewerage  system 
with  estimates  of  cost." 

Earns  City,  Butler  County,  is  a  borough  witn  about  250  in- 
habitants, situated  on  both  sides  of  Bear  Creek  about  twelve  miles 

138 


west  of  its  point  of  discharge  into  the  Allegheny  River  at  Parker.  The 
borough  embraces  225  acres  and  during  the  oil  excitment  had  a 
large  population  and  gave  promise  of  being  a  large  town.  The  Star- 
light Refinery  a  small  establishment  and  the  Pennsylvania  Refining 
Company,  the  latter  employing  five  men.  appear  to  comprise  the  in- 
dustries of  the  town.  There  is  no  water  supply  system.  Privies  and 
one  or  two  cesspools  form  the  only  means  of  domestic  sewage  dis- 
posal other  than  one  six  inch  sewer  serving  a  family  of  two.  There 
are  several  privies  on  the  bank  and  overhanging  Pear  Creek. 
Kitchen  waste  is  generally  discharged  to  the  ground.  The  Star- 
light Refinery  has  a  six  inch  sewer  and  the  Pennsylvania  Refining 
Company  a  ten  inch  sewer  into  Bear  Creek,  discharging  oil  waste  and 
grease.  As  these  refineries  use  sulphuric  acid  it  is  probable  that 
some  of  this  reaches  the  stream. 

Petrolia  borough  lies  about  eight  miles  southwest  of  Parker  on 
Bear  Creek.  It  is  an  oil  town  with  a  population  of  about  500  at  the 
present  time,  but  formerly  it  was  much  larger.  The  industries  are 
small,  consisting  of  a  boiler  shop,  a  machine  shop,  and  a  "chopping" 
mill  with  but  few  employees.  There  is  no  public  system  of  water 
works,  water  for  domestic  uses  being  derived  from  private  drilled 
wells  and  springs  there  being  forty  three  drilled  wells,  two 
dug  wells  and  twenty-one  springs  in  use  in  the  borough.  There  is  no 
public  sewerage  system.  Many  of  the  houses,  however,  have  in- 
dividual sewers  discharging  kitchen  wastes  to  the  highways  or  to  Bear 
Creek,  and  there  are  two  or  three  small  sewers  discharging  sewage 
from  individual  properties  into  the  creek.    Privies  are  in  general  use. 

Fairview  borough,  Butler  County,  (Baldwin  P.  O.)  with  a  popu- 
lation of  about  220,  is  located  on  a  high  divide  between  two  branches 
of  Bear  Creek  at  a  point  some  seven  miles  from  its  mouth.  It  has 
no  public  water  system,  private  drilled  wells  being  in  general  use  with 
a  few  dug  wells  and  springs.  The  town  has  no  sewers,  public  or 
private,  privies  being  common.  Kitchen  wastes  are  discharged  to  the 
ground  or  to  cesspools  in  such  a  way  as  to  cause  little  or  no  nuisance. 

Bruin  borough,  Butler  County,  with  a  population  of  600  is  located 
on  Bear  Creek  about  six  miles  from  its  mouth.  The  borough  has  prac- 
tically no  industries  except  the  production  of  oil,  being  the  centre  of 
an  active  field.  Water  for  domestic  purposes  is  obtained  from 
springs  and  wells,  there  being  twenty-eight  drilled  wells,  four  dug 
wells  and  eight  springs  in  use  in  the  borough.  Kitchen  waste  gen- 
erally is  discharged  to  the  highway  or  creek.  •  There  are  no  sewerage 
facilities  except  a  few  individual  private  sewers  to  the  creek  for  the 
greater  part  discharging  only  kitchen  waste. 

Queenstown  borough,  Armstrong  County,  is  a  small  rural  com- 
munity two  miles  west  of  the  Allegheny  river  at  East  Brady  with 
a  population  of  about  seventy-five.  Water  for  domestic  purposes  is 
obtained  from  a  number  of  drilled  and  dug  wells  and  eight  or  ten 

139 


springs.  There  are  a  number  of  private  sewers  discharging  mainly 
kitchen  waste  to  Chrystie  Run,  a  tributary  of  Sugar  Creek,  and  one 
private  sewer  discharging  into  an  abandoned  coal  mine.  There  are 
no  industries,  the  town  being  strictly  residential  in  character. 

East  Brady,  Clarion  County,  is  a  borough  of  about  1,300  poptula- 
laiion  situated  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Allegheny  River  about  four 
miles  above  the  mouth  of  Red  Bank  Creek.  The  citizens  are  largely 
employed  at  coal  mine  operations  in  the  vicinity  or  by  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad  Company.  Other  industries  include  the  Valley  Yarn 
Mill,  East  Brady  Woolen  Mill,  a  planing  mill,  and  a  grist  mill.  The 
East  Brady  Water  Company  supplies  about  000  consumers  with 
water  lor  domestic  purposes.  This  water  is  derived  from  a  spring  on 
the  mountain  side  and  formerly,  during  dry  weather,  it  was  neces- 
sary to  augment  the  supply  by  pumping  from  a  driven  well  that  was 
impregnated  with  salt,  rendering  it  unsuitable  for  drinking  pur- 
poses. This  was  abandoned  by  order  of  the  Commissioner  of  Health 
and  a  new  well  substituted.  There  are  a  large  number  of  drilled  wells 
and  two  dug  wells  serving  some  -100  persons.  The  sewers  of  the  bor- 
ough, twelve  in  number,  all  private,  range  in  size  from  four  to  ten 
inches  and  aggregate  a  total  length  of  0,050  feet,  serving  a  population 
of  about  200.  All  discharge  on  the  river  bank  several  feet  below  low 
water  level.  On  October  3rd  plans  for  a  comprehensive  sanitary 
sewerage  system  to  receive  also  roof  drainage  with  three  outlets  to 
the  river  and  serving  the  entire  population  were  submitted  to  the 
Department  and  a  permit  for  their  construction  was  issued  on  Oc- 
tober 11th,  1906  subject  to  certain  conditions  and  stipulations,  among 
them  being  the  exclusion  of  roof  water,  the  abandonment  of  private 
sewers  and  the  preparation  of  a  plan  for  the  interception  and  treat- 
ment of  all  of  the  sewage  of  the  borough. 

(b)  Clarion  Fiver  Drainage  Area.  The  Clarion  River  has  two 
principal  sources,  the  East  and  West  Branches,  which  rise  in  numer- 
ous rivulets  in  the  south  central  part  of  McKean  County.  The  West 
Branch  heads  in  a  deep  wooded  ravine  surrounded  by  hills,  the  tops 
of  which  are  cultivated,  and  flows  in  an  almost  due  southerly  direc- 
tion to  Johnsonburg.  The  East  Branch  heads  in  a  deep  narrow 
boulder  covered  valley,  surrounded  by  a  desolate  country  partly 
covered  with  second  growth,  and  has  a  general  southwesterly  direc- 
tion to  its  confluence  with  the  West  Branch  at  Johnsonburg.  This 
stream  is  clear  above  Instanter,  but  from  there  down  is  of  a  dark, 
cloudy  green  color.  It  is  badly  stained  by  drainage  from  chemical 
works,  tanneries,  and  many  oil  wells.  Ripples  are  numerous  through- 
out its  course  as  it  is  generally  very  shallow,  and  at  its  confluence 
witli  the  West  Branch,  it  is  about  forty  feet  wide.  Below  Johnson- 
burg the  country  is  bleak,  desolate  and  strewn  with  boulders  and  the 
course  of  the  river  is  very  sinuous.    From  the  junction  of  these  two 

140 


branches  the  Clarion  River  flows  nearly  due  south  for  two  miles  and 
a  half,  where  it  makes  an  abrupt  turn  to  the  west  and  from  this  point 
the  general  direction  of  its  course  is  southwest  to  a  point  five  miles 
below  Eidgway.  Here  it  turns  sharply  to  the  north  of  west  and  fol- 
lows this  direction  to  Hallton  in  the  northern  part  of  Springcreek 
Township.  It  then  turns  to  the  southwest  flowing  with  many  bends 
and  turns  between  Forest  and  Jefferson  counties  and  through  Clarion 
County  to  its  confluence  with  the  Allegheny  River  immediately  below 
Foxburg. 

Elk  Creek,  which  enters  the  Clarion  River  at  Ridgway,  coming 
from  the  east,  flows  through  a  deep,  narrow  gorge  and  is  bordered  on 
both  sides  from  the  greater  part  of  its  course  by  waste  lands.  At  its 
mouth  Elk  Creek  is  about  fifty  feet  wide  and  its  waters  are  inky 
black,  due  to  tannery  wastes  and  mine  drainage.  The  Clarion  River 
at  Johnsonburg  presents  an  unusual  feature,  the  west  side  of  the  river 
being  fairly  clear  while  the  east  side  is  badly  stained  by  paper  mill 
wastes.  At  Ridgway  the  Clarion  River  is  about  150  feet  wide  and  its 
waters  a  dirty  dark  brown  color,  due  to  the  waste  from  numerous 
tanneries  which  enter  both  the  main  stream  and  its  tributaries.  Big 
Mill  Creek  heads  in  a  hilly  waste  wilderness  in  northern  Elk  County 
and  flows  in  a  due  southerly  direction  through  a  country  fairly  well 
covered  with  second  growth  timber  to  its  confluence  with  the  Clarion 
River  below  Ridgway.  Little  Toby  Creek  rises  in  the  south  central 
part  of  Elk  County  and  the  northeastern  part  of  Jefferson  County 
and  flows  in  a  circuitous  course  to  its  junction  with  the  Clarion 
River  about  eight  miles  below  Ridgway.  This  stream  flows  through  a 
deep  rolling  valle}7  with  high  hills  on  either  side.  In  the  northern  part 
of  the  valley  there  are  a  few  farms  in  the  bottom  lands  but  for  the 
most  part  it  is  a  barren  country.  At  its  head  waters  Little  Toby 
Creek  is  clear  and  swift  but  at  Brockwayville  the  stream  is  about 
forty  feet  wide,  rather  sluggish,  and  stained  yellow  by  mine  drainage. 
Many  small  coal  mines  drain  to  the  Clarion  River  through  Deer 
Creek  and  its  tributaries.  The  valleys  of  this  creek  and  its  tributary, 
Paint  Creek,  are  hilly,  about  one  half  being  wooded  and  the  re- 
mainder farmed. 

Along  the  Clarion  River  and  its  tributaries  in  Elk  County  the 
principal  prominent  topographic  features  are  the  scalloped  ridges  or 
knobs,  the  summits  of  which  range  between  300  to  600  feet  above  the 
bottom  of  the  valleys.  The  steepest  slopes  are  generally  found  near 
the  base  of  the  hills.  Back  from  the  streams  the  surface  is  cut  up 
into  valleys  and  small  elevated  plateaus.  The  surface  of  the  ground 
bordering  the  river  in  Clarion  County  is  rough  and  rugged  with  steep 
descents  to  water  level,  often  precipitous.  Receding  from  the  main 
course  between  the  dividing  ridges,  the  country  becomes  less  rugged, 
though  still  decidedly  steep.    As  the  stream  nears  its  confluence  with 

141 

10 


the  Allegheny  River  ii  winds  slowly  through  its  canyon  like  gorge 
while  beyond  spread  a  scries  of  sharply  cut  mountain  ridges,  wild 
and  rugged,  separated  by  deep  precipitous  gorges  through  which  its 
tributaries  flow.  This  territory  bordering  the  Clarion  is  covered, 
generally  speaking,  with  a  rough  second  growth  of  timber  with  small 
clearings  and  an  occasional  oil  derrick.  South  of  the  river  there  is 
much  excellent  farming  land  made  from  the  disintegrated  shales  and 
friable  sandstones:  hut  north  of  the  Clarion,  sandy  and  cold  clayey 
soil  covers  most  of  the  surface,  and  this  soil  is  usually  quite  poor. 

The  slope  near  the  headwaters  of  this  river  is  rapid  hut  from  Cooks- 
burg  on  the  Jefferson  and  Forest  County  line  to  its  junction  with  the 
Allegheny  River  helow  Foxburg.  the  average  rate  of  fall  is  seven  feet 
to  the  mile.  A  gauging  of  this  stream  by  the.  Pennsylvania  Water 
Supply  Commission  at  Clarion  on  September  26,  1008,  showed,  the 
minimum  flow  to  be  110.5  second  feet. 

Rainfall  records  are  available  for  Ridgway  near  the  headwaters, 
I  Marion,  and  Parkers  Landing  on  the  Allegheny  near  the  mouth  of  the 
(Marion  River.    The  annual  precipitation  in  inches  follows: 


Ridgway,    

Clarion 

Parkers    I.andin; 


I  r  : 
Complete 
Records. 


Number  of 

Years 

Cm  ered. 


inches. 

44.71 
5S.5G 
57.29 


inches. 

29.92 
3S.41 
32.52 


38.37 
46. S1 
43. (M 


The  Clarion  River  drains  an  area  of  1,175  square  miles  including 
parts  of  McKean,  Elk,  Forest,  Jefferson,  and  Clarion  counties  and 
has  been  invaluable  to  the  lumber  interests  of  these  counties.  This 
stream  has  been  declared  a  public  highway.  From  the  confluence  of 
the  Clarion  and  Allegheny  Rivers,  the  distance  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Allegheny  River  is  86.1  miles  and  to  the  source  of  the  Allegheny 
about  222  miles. 

The  total  population  of  the  Clarion  River  basin  is  67,110  divided 
into:  urban  25,700,  rural  41,320.  The  rural  population  is  approxi- 
mately thirty-five  to  the  square  mile. 

The  three  largest  towns  in  the  basin  are  Ridgway,  St.  Marys,  and 
Johnsonburg,  all  of  which  are  in  Elk  County.  Johnsonburg  and  St. 
Marys  are  industrial  communities,  there  being  pulp  and  paper  mills, 
chemical  works,  and  tanneries  in  both  towns.  Large  quantities 
of  liquid  wastes  from  these  establishments  are  discharged  into  the 
stream,  and  pollute  it  to  such  an  extent  that  fish  have  been  practically 
exterminated. 


142 


The  waters  of  the  Clarion  River  and  its  tributaries  are  used  at  a 
number  of  points  for  the  development  of  power  to  run  small  industrial 
plants  as  noted  below : 

Elk  County.  Clarion  County. 

Mead   Run   at   Shawmut.  Paint  Creek  at  LickiDgsville. 

Clarion  River  at  Ridgway  (80  H.  P.)  Piney  Creek  at  Limestone. 

Big  Mill  Creek  at  near  Ridgway.  .Licking  Creek  at  Sligo. 

The  industries  of  this  region  are  varied,  consisting  principally  of 
agriculture,  coal  production,  oil  and  natural  gas  operations,  beside 
which  there  are  a  number  of  industrial  plants  mainly  depending 
either  now  or  originally  upon  the  vast  timber  resources,  especially  of 
the  territory  around  the  head  waters.  Chemical  plants,  tanneries, 
paper  mills,  and  glass  plants  are  the  most  important  of  these.  The 
tanneries  are  all  on  the  watershed  above  Clarion  and  include  plants 
of  the  Elk  Tanning  Company  at  Arroyo,  Portland  Mills,  Instanter, 
Wilcox,  and  two  plants  at  Eidgway,  the  "Ridgway"  and  the  "Eagle 
Valley,"  beside  which  there  is  the  plant  of  the  St.  Marys  Tanning 
Company  at  St.  Marys,  and  the  Rolfe  Tanning  Company  at  Johnson- 
burg.  Chemical  plants  for  the  manufacture  of  wood  alcohol,  acetate 
of  lime,  and  charcoal  are  located  as  follows,  all  being  above  Clarion : 

St.   Marys,  M.    J.    Corbett  Chemical  Company. 

Dakoga,  Mclvean    Chemical    Company. 

Glen  Hazel,  Wright  Chemical  Company. 

Straight,  Lackawanna    Chemical   Company. 

Straight,  Straight  Chemical  Company. 

Maxwell    Run,  Clawson-Fiske  Chemical  Company. 

Spring  Creek,  Clawson-Fiske  Chemical  Company. 

Hutchins,  Pen    Chemical    Company. 

Sargeant,  Otto  Chemical  Company. 

The  glass  plants  noted  are  the  Pierce  Glass  Company  of  St.  Marys  . 
and  the  Brockway  Machine  Bottle  Company  of  Brock  way  ville.  At 
Johnsonburg  are  the  paper,  soda  pulp,  and  sulphite  pulp  mills  of  the 
New  York  and  Pennsylvania  Company  and  the  Highland  Paper  Com- 
pany, both  controlled  by  the  same  interests.  On  the  Clarion  River 
watershed  above  Clarion  there  are  forty-one  coal  mines  and  below 
Clarion  there  are  seventeen  mines.  Near  Edenburg  on  Canoe  Creek, 
a  tributary  of  the  Clarion  River  some  distance  below  Clarion,  is  lo- 
cated the  nitroglycerine  plant  of  the  Ellis  Hall  and  Sons  Company. 

Lumber  and  coal  mine  operations  have  resulted  in  the  construction 
of  a  large  number  of  railroads  in  the  upper  portion  of  the  watershed ; 
but  chiefly  owing  to  the  topography  of  the  territory  adjacent  thereto, 
the  greater  portion  of  the  main  stream  is  not  followed  closely  by  a 
railroad.  This  is  not  true  of  its  upper  portion,  however,  where  the 
stream  and  its  principal  tributaries  have  generally  one  and  some- 
times two  railroads  following  their  banks.  The  railroads  are  repre- 
sented by  branches  of  the  Pennsylvania;  Buffalo,  Rochester  and  Pitts- 
burgh; Erie;  Pittsburgh,  Shawmut  &  Northern;  Baltimore  and  Ohio; 
Tionesta  Valley,  and  a  number  of  small  roads.  The  total  trackage 
amounts  to  upwards  of  300  miles. 

143 


The  Clarion  River  is  do1  used  as  a  source  of  public  water  supply. 
Ar  only  one  point,  Clarion,  there  was  an  emergency  intake.  The  De- 
partmenl  compelled  the  abandonment  of  it.  In  general,  water  for 
domestic  purposes  is  derived  from  wells  and  springs.  Four  boroughs 
are  supplied  by  water  companies,  namely.  Johnsonburg,  St.  Marys, 
Brockwayville,  and  Clarion;  three  have  municipal  supplies,  namely, 
Ridgway,  Edenburg  and  St.  Petersburg.  Industrial  supplies  are  de- 
rived from  the  Clarion  River  at  Johnsonburg  by  the  New  York  and 
Pennsylvania  Company  and  the  Rolfe  Tanning  Company,  from  Elk 
('reek  al  St.  Marys  by  the  Corbett  Chemical  Company's  plant,  from 
the  rivet-  at  Ridgway  by  the  Elk  Tanning  Company  and  from  Licking 
Creek  at  Bligo  by  the  Sligo  Fire  Brick  Company.  The  New  York 
and  Pennsylvania  Company  uses  about  25,000,000  gallons  daily,  of 
which  it  has  been  found  necessary  to  filter  10,000,000  gallons. 

Johnsonburg,  St.  Marys,  Ridgway  and  Clarion  have  sewer  systems 
of  greater  or  less  extent.  It  is  estimated  that  a  population  of  21,365 
persons  contribute  domestic  sewage  to  the  stream  above  Clarion  aud 
4  470  persons  below  Clarion,  making  a  total  of  25,835  persons  pollut- 
ing the  stream  with  sewage. 

By  far  the  most  important  pollution  of  the  streams  comes  from  the 
industiial  operations,  especially  the  chemical  plants,  tanneries,  paper 
and  pulp  mills,  and  coal  mines.  The  chemical  plants  enumerated 
above  discharge  very  extensive  wastes  into  the  stream. 

In  many  of  the  streams  having  water  suitable  in  the  basin  tributary 
to  the  Clarion  River,  young  trout  have  been  placed  by  the  State  Fish 
Commission  and  the  upper  waters  of  the  West  Branch  of  the  Clariou 
River  has  been  stocked  with  bass  aud  pike  perch. 

In  Table  XXX VI II  is  given  a  chemical  analysis  made  of  the 
streams  near  Ridgway,  by  the  chemist  of  the  Elk  Tanning  Company, 
and  also  mineral  analysis  of  the  Clarion  River  at  Johnsonburg  and 
Clarion  made  at  the  laboratories  of  William  B.  Scaife  and  Sons  Com- 
pany, Pittsburgh. 

TABLE  XXXVIII. 

Chemical  Analyses  of  Waters  in  Clarion  River  Basin. 

Parts  per  Million. 


Del      ii  nation. 


Appearance,     

Color 

Re-action 

Total  Residue,    ... 
■  ■ii  Ignition,   . 

Chlorino 

Free  Ammonia,  . 
Allium.  Ammonia, 
Calcium     Oxide, 

Sulphates 

Total   Solids 

M  neral  Soiiiis,  ... 
Organic    Solids, 


i  River 
at  Ridgway, 
Dec,  1909. 


Turbid. 
Red  Brown 
Neutral 

I, 


S70.00 
800.00 

0.350 
0.170 
270.00 
170.01 


10 1 U  Creek 
at  Ridgway, 

Dec.  1909. 


Whetstone  Run, 

Brockwayville, 

Dec,  1909. 


Turbid. 

1'ellow  Brown. 
Neutral. 

365.00 

95.00 

59.98 

0.840 

0.440 


2.500 
0.010 
0.006 


27.90C 

12.0 

15.9 


144 


TABLE  XXX VIII. -Continued. 


Determination. 


Volatile  and   Organic,    

Silica 

Iron  and  Al.   Oxide 

Calcium  Oxide,    

Magnesium     Oxide,     

Sodium    Oxide 

Sulphuric    Anhydride 

Carbonic  Anhydride   (Fixed), 
Carbonic    Anhydride    (Free), 

Chlorine,      

Nitric    Anhydride 

Calcium    Carbonate 

Calcium   Sulphate 

Magnesium    Sulphate,    

Magnesium    Chloride,     

Magnesium   Nitrate 

Sodium    Chloride 

Alkalinity,     

Total   Solids 

Suspended     matter 

Free  Carbonic  Acid,    

Incrusting    Solids 

Non-Incrusting    Solids,     


1  la  i  Ion  Uiver. 


at  Johnsonbur 
Oct.,  1906. 


18.8 
4.3 

2.G 

io.  a 
5.6 
1.0 
6.8 
4.2 
9.4 
8.4 
4.3 
9.7 

11.6 


9.4 
6.8 
2.1 
9.4 

64.3 
9.4 
9.4 

62. a 
2.1 


at  Johnsonburg, 

NOV.,     V."r,. 


11.1 

3.4 

2.6 
13.6 
3.8 
3.8 
&.5 
7.5 
9.4 
11.1 
Trace. 
17.6 
9.2 


9.1 


7.0 
17.1 
60.0 

7.7 

9.4 
53.0 

7.0 


at  Clarion, 
l;ec,   WW. 


41.0 
9.4 
4.3 
51.3 
13.3 
21.* 
53.0 
20.7 
3.8 
32.3 


47.0 


26.2 
10.9 


40. 0 

47.0 

239.1 

4.3 

3.8 

158.3 

40.0 


Johnsonburg,  Elk  County,  population  4,200,  is  a  borough  situated 
in  the  central  part  of  the  county  at  the  fork  of  the  East  and  West 
branches  of  the  Clarion  River.  It  is  essentially  a  manufacturing 
community,  the  paper  and  pulp  mills  of  the  New  York  and  Pennsyl- 
vania Company  being  largely  responsible  for  the  growth  and  pros- 
perity of  the  town. .  At  their  mills  in  the  town  and  in  their  wood 
operations  in  the  vicinity  this  company  gives  employment  to  about 
1,450  persons.  Beside  the  large  paper  and  pulp  mills  of  this  com- 
pany, there  is  the  extensive  tannery  of  the  Eolfe  Tanning  Company. 
The  citizens  of  the  borough  obtain  their  drinking  water  partly  from 
individual  wells  and  neighborhood  springs  and  partly  from  the  John- 
sonburg Water  Company.  It  is  estimated  that  about  2,700  persons 
are  supplied  by  the  water  company  and  about  1,500  by  drilled  wells 
and  springs.  Owing  to  the  topography  of  the  borough,  there  are  one 
low  pressure  and  two  high  pressure  water  districts.  The  low  district 
is  small  and  is  supplied  by  gravity  from  a  storage  reservoir  on  Silver 
Creek.  The  pressure  may  be  increased  in  cases  of  emergency  by  the 
use  of  pumps  at  the  works  of  the  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  Com- 
pany. The  smaller  of  the  two  high  pressure  districts. comprises  a  few 
dwellings  which  are  supplied  with  water  from  springs.  The  other 
high  pressure  district  comprises  the  principal  part  of  the  town,  the 
water  being  obtained  from  Powers  Eun  and  from  springs  in  its  val- 
ley. The  water  is  pumped  to  a  reservoir  on  the  hill  above  the  town 
and  thence  delivered  by  gravity.  Typhoid  fever  has  been  prevalent  in 
Johnsonburg  for  some  years  past.  Reports  indicate  that  in  1904  there 
were  75  cases;  in  1905,  35  cases;  in  1906,  28  cases;  in  1907,  42  cases 


145 


and  in  1908,  24  cases.    One  of  the  springs  known  as  Murray  Spring, 
used  quite  extensively  by  the  residents  of  the  neighborhood,  is  so  situ- 
ated as  to  be  extremely  liable  to  contamination  from  yards  and  privies 
on  the  slope  above  it,  and  two  cases  of  typhoid  occurred  on  one  of 
these  properties  just  prior  to  an  outbreak  of  typhoid  among  the  users 
of  this  well.  •  The  Silver  Creek  watershed  appears,  from  an  investi- 
gation, to  be  practically  uninhabited.     An  examination  of  the  drain- 
age area  of  Powers  Run  in  the  summer  of  1905  showed  several  sources 
of  pollution,  including  a  settlement  of  ten  houses  with  privies  and 
pig  pens,  barn  yards,  and  lumber  camps,  usually  without  sanitary 
accommodations  and  containing  from  400  to  800  persons  in  all.    An 
epidemic  of  "bowel  complaint"  iu  one  of  these  camps  preceded  by 
about  four  weeks  an  outbreak  of  dysentery  in  Johnsonburg.    On  No- 
vember 9th,  1905,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  issued  a  permit  to  W. 
E.  Zierden  to  supply  a  church,  school  and  ten  dwellings  with  water 
from  a  driven  well.    The  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  Company  de- 
rives a  private,  industrial  supply  from  the  Clarion  Eiver,  using  about 
25,000,000  gallons  a  day  at  the  two  plants.   Because  of  the  industrial 
pollutions  from  chemical  plants  and  tanneries  above  Johnsonburg,  the 
Paper  Company  has  found  it  necessary  to  install  a  mechanical  fil- 
tration plant  in  which  it  purifies  about  10,000,000  gallons  daily  of  the 
water  used  for  industrial  purposes.    There  are  four  sewer  outlets  from 
the  borough,  two  into  the  river  and  two  into  runs  receiving  roof  aud 
cellar  drainage  as  well  as  sewage.    Many  properties  are  not  connected 
with  the  sewers,  using  loose  earth  privy  vaults  which  frequently  over- 
flow, the  contents  being  washed  by  storms  into  the  street  and  alley 
gutters.    Slops  and  wash  water  are  noticeably  discharged  into  street 
gutters.    Probably  4,000  persons  contribute  sewage  pollution  to  the 
river.    Decrees  were  issued  by  the  Commissioner  of  Health  on  April 
13, 1907,  and  June  27,  1907,  allowing  the  construction  of  certain  sew- 
erage extensions  and  requiring  the  preparation  of  plans  for  a  compre- 
hensive sewerage  system  including  the  exclusion  of  storm  water  and 
collection  of  all  the  sewage  and  its  ultimate  purification  at  sewage 
disposal  works.    The  tannery  wastes  from  the  Rolfe  Tanning  Com- 
pany's plant  are  a  ver3r  considerable  source  of  pollution.    The  tannery 
has  a  capacity  of  350  green  hides  a  day,  using  both  extract  and  bark 
in  the  tanning  process,  and  lime  for  dehairing,  and  also  about  350 
pounds  of  sulphuric  acid  daily.     The  wastes  are  typical  of  tanning 
operations.    The  paper  and  pulp  mills  discharge  very  extensive  wastes 
into  the  river.     These  plants  are  known  as  the  "Highland  Mill"  of 
the  High  la  ml  Paper  Company  and  the  "Clarion  Mill"  of  the  New 
York  and  Pennsylvania  Company,  both  being  controlled  by  the  same 
interests.     The  Highland  Mill  is  a  soda  fibre  plant  with  a  daily  ca- 
pacity of  thirty-seven  to  forty  tons  of  soda  fibre.    The  "Clarion  Mill" 
m.t  only  makes  its  own  soda  fibre  and  sulphite  pulp,  but  also  puts 
out  daily  from  eighty  to  ninety  tons  of  paper  and  twenty  to  thirty 
tons  of  soda  fibre. 

140 


The  capacity  of  the  two  soda  pulp  mills  combined  is  115 
tons  a  day,  and  of  the  sulphite  pulp  mill  thirty  tons  a  day.  The 
wastes  from  the  soda  mills  are  said  to  contain  :i  small  percentage  of 
lignin,  some  carbonate  of  soda,  lime  water,  and  a  trace  of  chlorine. 
the  waste  waters  containing  probably  not  over  3,000  pounds  of  soda 
a  day.  Wastes  from  the  paper  mill  are  said  to  contain  a  small  percent- 
age of  alum  and  rosin  size  and,  on  rare  occasions,  coloring  matter. 
The  sulphite  pulp  mill  wastes  are  of  a  reddish  brown,  changing  to 
a  dark  purple  and  are  largely  organic,  putrefying  and  giving  off  bad 
odors. 

The  sewerage  decree  of  April,  1907,  issued  by  the  Commissioner  of 
Health  to  Johnsonburg  borough  contains  the  following  discussion : 

"The  situation  in  Johnsonburg  from  the  standpoint  of  the  interests  of  the  public 
health,  not  only  of  the  citizens  of  the  borough  but  the  public  in  general  who  may  be 
affected  through  the  various  mediums  of  disease  transmission  from  a  focus  of 
infection  such  as  does  now  and  will  continue  to  exist  in  Johnsonburg  until  proper 
sanitary  measures  are  intelligently  and  vigilantly  enforced,  calls  for  prolonged  con- 
sideration, prudent  conclusions  and  action 

"Typhoid  fever  and  other  water  borue  diseases  are  far  above  the  normal  rate. 
During  the  first  eleven  months  of  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  six,  there  have 
been  twenty-eight  cases  of  typhoid  fever  reported.  Diminution  in  this  rate  cannot 
be  expected,  but  a  very  great  increase  is  possible  so  long  as  sewage  is  improperly 
disposed  of  in  the  borough  and  the  surface  and  ground  water  supplies  used  for 
drinking  purposes  are  poisoned  by  pathogenic  material.  The  first  efforts  of  the 
borough  authorities  should  have  for  their  object  the  protection  of  the  lives  of  the 
people  and  practical  measures  must  necessarily  call  for  the  expenditure  of  monpys. 
Last  year  the  assessed  valuation  of  the  borough  is  reported  to  have  been  four 
hundred  and  thirty-three  thousand  three  hundred  and  eighty  dollars,  which  fixes 
the  statutory  limitation  of  bondod  indebtedness  at  thirty  thousand,  three  hundred 
and  sixty-six  dollars  If,  as  reported,  there  are  on  hand  five  thousand  and  thirtv-six 
dollars  with  which  to  pay  off  the  old  bonds,  then  it  would  appear  that  the  borough 
could  issue  further  bonds  to  the  amount  of  fifteen  thousand,  eight  hundred  and 
seventy-two  dollars.  It  is  understood  that  there  is  cash  on  hand  to  the  amount  of 
about  forty-five  hundred  dollars,  and  that  for  general  municipal  purposes  it  is 
possible  for  a  fund  of  about  twenty  dollars  to  be  raised. 

"Therefore,  any  serious  mistake  in  the  expenditure  of  funds  might  very  materially 
handicap  the  borough  in  carrying  forward  a  complete  plan  for  the  betterment  of 
general  sanitation  in  Johnsonburg. 

"The  proposed  sewer  will  stop  the  baekfiooding  of  a  few  properties  only.  The 
plan  submitted  does  not  show/  the  size  or  grade  of  the  proDosed  sewer,  nor  do^s 
it  appear  to  have  been  designed  with  any  clear  conception  of  the  work  it  should 
perform  now  and  in  the  future.  It  is  possible  when  sewage  disposal  works  arp 
built,  as  they  must  be,  that  the  proposed  outlet  spwer  would  not  be  at  all  adapfpd 
to  the  requirements  of  the  town  then.  Furthermore,  while  thpre  are  known  to  bp 
in  existence  plans  and  profiles  of  the  existing  sewers  and  of  additions  that  must  be 
made  in  the  future  to  the  system,  yet  the  borough  has  never  submitted  such 
plans  or  a  correct  report  of  its  sewer  system,  giving  the  Department  rpliable  in- 
formation called  for  in  this  connection.  In  fact,  the  borough's  sanitarv  affairs 
have  been  certainly  neglected  or  conducted  in  a  dilatory  manner. 

"The  boroudi  ordinance  places  the  matter  of  all  miisanees  in   the  hands  of  the 
local  board  of  health.     Privy  vaults,  cesspools,  etc.,  unless  water-tight  shall  not  be 
dug  or  permitted  to  remain  within  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  of  any  well  or  sprine 
used  for  drinking  or  culinary  purposes,  and  yet  it  is  obvious  that  this  regulation  has 
not  been  enforced.    Further,  in  no  case  shall  privy  vaults  be  less  than  five  feet  dpep 
Earth  privies  and  closets  with  no  vault,  pit  or  depression  must  be  daily  supplied 
with  ashes  or  absorbpnts  and  contents  completely  removed  monthly,  and  all  vaults 
cesspools,  etc. ,  shall  be  cleaned  out  at  Ipast  once  in  the  spring  not  lafpr  than  Mav 
fifteenth  and  at  least  once  in  the  fall  not  earlier  than  October  fifteenth.     Besides 
such  structures  shall  be  disinfected  weekly  by  a  solution  to  be  approved  by  thp  locai 
board  of  health.     Still  further,  no  offensive  or  deleterious  waste  or  rpfuse  shall  be 
allowed  to  accumulate  on  premises  or  to  be  thrown  or  allowed  to  run  into  any  public 
waters,  streets,  etc. 

"In  spite  of  these  regulations  and  the  powers  of  the  local  authorities  and  thp 
prevalence  of  disease  in  the  boroush,  if  seems  that  systematic  emptyin?  of  priw 
vaults  has  been  npglpcted.  Generally  work  of  this  kind  having  been  performed  onlv 
once  in  the  past  twTelve  years. 


147 


"There  is  a  provision  whereby  all  buildings  on  the  line  of  a  sewer  shall  be  con- 
nected with  the  sewer  within  thirty  days  from  notification  by  the  borough  council, 
subject  to  line  and  cost  of  said  connection  being  made  by  the  superintendent  of 
sewers 

"This  provision  has  never  been  enforced  generally.  Where  sewers  are  not  pro- 
vided or  used,  tight  masonry  vaults  should  he  constructed  under  new  borough  ordi- 
nance prescribing  dimensions  and  manner  id'  eonstruction  to  the  end  that  the  over- 
flowing of  them  or  surface  wash  of  the  contents  of  these  receptacles  shall  he  abso 
lutely  prevented.  The  borough  ordinance  provides  for  a  superintendent  of  sewers, 
but  the  appointment  by  the  burgess  has  q<  vet  been  made  so  far  as  the  Department 
is  informed.    This  officer  should  he  appointed." 

Iii  July.l!)12,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  approved  plans  for  a 
comprehensive  sewerage  system  and  for  a  site  selected  for  sewage 
disposal  works. 

St.  Marys,  Elk  County,  population  about  0,400,  is  a  borough  situ- 
ated near  the  headwaters  of  Elk  Creek  about  one  mile  from  the  eastern 
divide  of  the  Allegheny  watershed.  Elk  Creek  from  this  point  flows 
;i  distance  of  nine  miles  nearly  due  west,  entering  the  Clarion  River  at 
Eidgway.  It  is  a  manufacturing  town  with  a  number  of  important 
industries,  among  which  are  the  M.  J.  Corbett  &  Company  chemical 
plant,  the  Pennsylvania  Stave  Company,  the  St.  Marys  Sewer  Pipe 
Company,  the  Spees  Carbon  Manufacturing  Company,  the  Hall  & 
Kaul  Lumber  Company,  the  St.  Marys  Tanning  Company,  the  Pierce 
Class  Company,  the  Stackpole  Battery  Compan}',  the  Standard  Wood 
Company,  the  Pennsylvania  Fire  Proofing  Company,  and  the  shops 
of  the  Pittsburgh,  Shawmut  &  Northern  Railroad.  The  public  water 
supply  is  furnished  by  a  private  coloration  known  as  the  St.  Marys 
Water  Company,  whose  sources  of  supply  are  mountain  streams,  Sil- 
ver Creek  and  Laurel  Run,  both  tributary  to  Elk  Creek,  and  Wolf 
Lick  Run  tributary  to  the  Sinnemahoning.  These  streams  are  fed  by 
copious  springs,  the  Silver  Creek  supply  being  augmented  by  three 
drilled  wells.  The  use  of  the  additional  source  of  supply  known  as 
Silver  Lake  Run  and  the  extensions  of  the  Company's  mains  were  ap- 
proved in  a  permit  issued  by  the  Commissioner  of  Health  to  the  St. 
Marys  Water  Company  on  May  4th,  1908.  It  is  reported  that  2,000 
persons  or  more  obtain  drinking  water  from  springs  and  dug  wells. 
Some  of  the  industrial  plants  have  private  driven  wells.  The  chemical 
plant  of  the  M.  J.  Corbett  &  Company  has  an  industrial  supply  for 
condensing  purposes,  taking  about  1,150,000  gallons  of  water  a  day 
from  Elk  Creek.  In  1907  it  was  reported  that  there  was  but  one 
public  sewer  in  the  borough,  a  twelve-inch  drain  serving  about  twenty 
families  and  five  private  sewers  with  forty-six  connections  beside  a 
private  sewer  from  the  tannery  which  is  said  to  have  twenty  or  more 
house  connections.  Many  individual  properties  also  have  drains  dis- 
charging directly  into  the  creek  or  its  small  tributary  runs,  and  shal- 
low earth  privies  abound.  It  is  reported  that  sink  and  wTash  water, 
and  in  some  cases  water  closets,  discharge  into  the  street  gutters  and 
that  there  were  over  500  buildings  whose  wastes  are  disposed  of  in  a 
way  to  menace  public  health.     A  comprehensive  plan  for  sanitary 

148 


sewers  throughout  the  borough  lias  been  adopted,  the  Commissioner 
of  Health  having  issued  a  permit  therefor  on  June  6th,  1907.  The 
plans  then  submitted  include  purification  works  and  the  permit  issued 
contemplates  the  construction  from  time  to  time  of  such  sewers  as 
may  be  needed  and  the  erection  of  the  sewage  disposal  works  at  such 
time  as  the  interests  of  the  public  health  may  so  demand.  The  only 
industrial  plants  discharging  wastes  of  sanitary  importance  are  the 
tannery  and  the  chemical  works.  The  M.  J.  Corbett  chemical  com- 
pany manufactures  wood  alcohol,  acetate  of  lime,  and  charcoal,  using 
seasoned  hardwood,  and  two  or  three  carloads  of  lime  a  month.  The 
waste  liquid  from  the  stills,  characteristic  of  these  plants,  is  dis- 
charged into  the  stream  along  with  about  1,150,000  gallons  of  water 
daily  used  for  condensing  purposes.  The  St.  Marys  Tanning  Com- 
pany's tannery  operated  by  Kistler,  Lesh  &  Co.,  of  Lock  Haven, 
handles  320  green  hides  a  day,  using  both  extract  and  bark  for 
tanning  and  lime  for  deh airing.  Some  sulphuric  acid  is  also  used. 
Oil  and  gas  operations  of  limited  extent  in  this  vicinity  and  extensive 
coal  mines  contribute  characteristic  wastes,  the  former  being  of  small 
importance. 

Eidgway,  Elk  County,  population  about  6,700,  is  a  borough  and 
the  county  seat.  It  is  a  manufacturing  community,  situated  on  the 
Clarion  Eiver  at  the  mouth  of  Elk  Creek.  Its  industries  comprise 
the  "Eidgway"  and  "Eagle  Valley"  tanneries  of  the  Elk  Tanning 
Company,  the  Eidgway  Machine  Works,  the  Eussell  Car  &  Snow  Plow 
Works,  a  machine  shop  and  foundry,  dynamo  and  engine  works,  brick 
works,  planing  mill  and  the  Clarion  Extract  Works  of  the  Elk  Tan- 
ning Company.  An  axe  factory  here  has  a  water  power  installation 
developing  80  H.  P.  In  the  region  around  Eidgway  natural  gas  is 
abundant,  and  oil  is  produced  in  limited  quantities.  Coal  also  is 
mined  to  some  extent.  The  water  works  system  is  owned  by  the  mu- 
nicipality. Its  source  of  supply  in  the  past  has  been  a  small  dam 
on  Gallagher  Bun,  augmented  by  two  drilled  wells  on  its  watershed. 
In  dry  seasons  the  wells  alone  were  used.  A  typhoid  fever  epidemic 
in  the  spring  of  the  year  1904  was  attributed  to  pollution  of  the 
water  in  these  wells.  While  the  greater  portion  of  the  public  is  served 
with  the  public  supply,  drinking  water  is  largely  obtained  from  semi- 
public  springs,  of  which  there  are  between  thirty  and  forty  and  about 
the  same  number  of  wells  scattered  throughout  the  borough.  Several 
of  these  springs  are  used  to  supply  a  limited  number  of  houses  and  in 
some  cases  industrial  plants.  Local  outbreaks  of  typhoid  fever  have 
occurred  from  time  to  time  among  users  of  spring  water  and  a  num- 
ber of  springs  were  condemned.  An  epidemic,  numbering  over 
300  cases,  started  in  August,  1907.  On  September  5th,  1907, 
the  Commissioner  of  Health  issued  a  permit  for  an  additional  source 
of  supply  from  Big  Mill  Creek  and  ordered  the  installation  of  a  filter 


U9 


plant  for  the  treatment  of  this  supply  and  the  abandonment  of  all 
springs  found  to  be  suspicious,  and  also  ordered  the  disconnection  of 
all  wells  from  the  public  system  and  the  abandonment  of  the  Qalla- 
gher  Run  Supply  as  soon  as  possible.  <>n  June  18th,  1908,  the  Com- 
missioner of  Health  issued  a  subsequent  permit  approving  plans 
for  a  filtration  plant  and  requiring  that  the  borough  filter  all  of 
the  water  supplied  to  the  town. 

The  public  sewer  system  was  built  on  a  comprehensive  plan  and 
has  six  outlets,  two  into  Elk  Creek,  fifteen  and  eight  inches  in  diam- 
eter and  four  into  the  (Marion  River,  one  eight  inches,  one  fifteen 
inches  and  two  twenty  inches  in  diameter.  One  of  the  last  named 
twenty-inch  sewers  is  an  intercepter  about  (>,000  feet  long.  No  storm 
water  is  admitted  to  the  system  except  from  the  roofs  of  buildings. 
There  are  a  few  unimportant  storm  sewers,  but  surface  drainage  is 
largely  depended  upon.  There  are  also  numerous  private  sewers  with 
outlets  into  Elk  Creek,  Gallagher  Run  and  small  water  courses. 
Eleven  other  sewers  range  in  size  from  eight-inch  pipe  to  two-foot  cul- 
verts. Cesspools  are  practically  unknown  and  where  there  are  no 
sewers  kitchen  waste  is  thrown  on  to  the  ground  or  drained  to  street 
gutters.  Excrement  is  deposited  in  loose  earth  vaults,  of  which  there 
are  hundreds  in  the  town,  mostly  on  the  hillside  and  frequently  above 
springs  and  wells,  the  waters  of  which  they  continually  menace.  Prac- 
tically the  entire  population,  directly  or  indirectly,  pollutes  the 
stream.  On  June  11,  1908,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  issued  a  permit 
approving  of  the  extension  of  the  sewerage  system  of  Kidgway  in  ac- 
cordance with  a  comprehensive  plan  then  submitted  which  involved 
the  interception  of  all  private  sewers,  and  requiring  the  preparation  of 
plans  for  a  sewage  purification  plant.  At  the  extract  works  of  the  Elk 
Tanning  Company  water  is  pumped  from  the  river  for  condensing 
purposes  and  returned  without  added  contamination.  The  Kidgway 
tannery  of  the  same  company  discharges  water  from  hide  soakings, 
bleach  water,  and  plumping  water.  At  the  "Eagle  Valley"  Tannery 
of  the  same  company  both  bark  and  extract  are  used  and  lime  is  used 
for  dehairing  as  well  as  acid  in  the  bleaching  process.  The  daily 
liquid  wastes  are  water  from  hide  soakings,  lime  water,  and  bleach 
water. 

in  July,  1008,  in  a  decree  issued  l)3r  the  Commissioner  of  Health 
tc  Ridgway  borough,  the  following  discussion  relative  to  sewerage 
may  be  found: 

"It  is  probably  well  within  the  facts  to  state  that  the  typhoid  fever  epidemic 
of  nineteen  hundred  and  seven  cost  the  community  of  Ridgway  upwards  of  on^ 
hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  thoughtful  citizens  now  realize  the  economy  of 
the  installation  of  sanitary  methods  of  sewage  disposal.  Local  Sentiment  is  favor- 
able to  r.n  improvement  of  the  sewerage  system  and  its  extension  to  all  parts  of  the 
town.  The  proposed  plan  is  calculated  to  remove  all  poisonous  matters  from  the 
vicinity  of  dwellings  as  quickly  as  possible  and  to  discharge  it  into  the  river  far 
below  the  borough  .- * t : >  1  in  order  to  accomplish  this  as  speedily  as  possible  it  is 
purposed   to  incorporate  il,e  existing  private  sewers  into  the  system. 

150 


"While  this  is  satisfactory  as  a  temporary  expedient,  it  should  be  temporary 
only . 

"The  Clarion  River  rises  in  McKean  County  and  the  summit  of  the  eastern 
boundary  of  the  stream's  area  is  the  divide  between  the  two  great  basins  of  the 
Susquehanna  and  the  Allegheny  River  systems.  The  watershed  above  Ridgway 
is  about  two  hundred  and  eighty-live  miles  in  extent,  including  Elk  Creek.  Most 
of  the  land  is  within  Elk  County,  is  hilly,  largely  deforested  and  interspersed  with 
narrow  steep  valleys  in  the  horizon  of  the  Kittanning  coal  measures.  Johnsonburg 
is  the  principal  place  in  the  territory  above  Ridgway  on  the  river.  In  that  town 
and  above  it  are  paper  mills,  tanneries  and  chemical  works  from  which  large 
quantities  of  trade  wastes  are  emptied  into  the  stream  and  pollute  the  waters. 
The  State  has  required  the  borough  of  Johnsonburg  to  prepare  plans  of  improved 
sewerage  with  a  view  to  some  other  method  of  disposal  of  sewage  than  into  the 
river. 

"The  borough  of  St.  Marys  is  now  constructing  a  new  sewer  system  approved  by 
the  State  Department  of  Health,  which  system  was  designed  in  connection  with 
a  purification  plant,  to  be  erected  later. 

"Below  Ridgway  the  river  pursues  a  general  southwesterly  course  to  the 'Allegheny 
River,  a  distance  of  seventy-seven  miles.  In  many  places  its  banks  are  high  and 
precipitous  and  the  region  traversed  is  sparsely  populated  and  rural.  So  far  as 
the  Department  knows,  the  waters  are  not  used  for  drinking  purposes  except  at 
Clarion,  where  there  is  an  emergency  intake.  The  citizens  of  this  town  complain 
that  at  times  the  pollutions  of  the  river  cause  a  nuisance  and  that  fish  life  is  practi- 
cally extinct.  The  water  company  obtains  its  supply  from  drilled  wells  along  the 
river  and  it  may  be  never  necessary  to  resort  to  the  stream  again  for  a  supply. 
Nevertheless,  this  is  not  a  sufficient  reason  why  the  river  should  be  used  as  an 
open  sewer.  It  is  the  policy  of  the  Commonwealth  to  preserve  the  virgin  purity 
of  its  mountain  streams  as  a  public  resource. 

"The  borough  of  Ridgway  is  not  financially  able  to  erect  a  sewage  purification 
plant  immediately.  However,  the  sewers  should  be  built  and  extended  in  contempla- 
tion of  treatment  works  at  no  distant  date.  This  requirement  demands  the  ex- 
clusion of  storm  water  from  the  sewers  because  it  is  not  practicable  to  purify 
the  great  bulk  of  mingled  house  sewage  and  surface  drainage. 

"It  is  known  that  many  of  the  private  srwers  are  faulty,  they  serve  as  rain  water 
drains  and  the  public  health  demands  their  overhauling  and  reconstruction  and  in 
some  instances  entire  abandonment.  How  many  of  them  are  suitable  when  repaired 
and  provided  with  inspection  manholes  to  be  permanently  incorporated  into  the 
borough  sewer  system  can  only  be  ascertained  by  critical  examination.  Without 
hesitation  it  may  be  concluded  that  the  stone  culverts  and  old  water  courses  should 
be  absolutely  abandoned  as  carriers  of  sewage.  They  should  be  reconstructed  under 
modern  methods  and  be  used  exclusively  for  storm  water  and  other  pipes  should  be 
provided  for  sewage. 

"Owners  who  have  been  to  considerable  expense  in  laying  doAvn  the  private  sewers 
or  in  connecting  their  properties  to  such  sewers  will  be  loathe  to  undertake  any 
further  expense.  There  being  such  a  large  number  of  private  sewers  in  the  borough, 
approximately  fifty  per  cent,  of  the  population  being  served  thereby,  and  the 
universal  discharge  of  kitchen  wastes  and  sewage  being  a  general  public  menace 
would  suggest  that  the  local  authorities  should  provide  the  remedy.  Nevertheless, 
upon  failure  of  the  borough  to  do  this,  it  would  be  incumbent  upon  the  State  health 
authorities  to  deal  directly  with  the  individual  in  discontinuing  the  discharge  of 
sewage  into  the  waters  of  the  State. 

"The  industrial  wastes  now  emptied  into  the  river  total  a  large  daily  amount. 
This  waste  must  eventually  be  treated  and  purified.  Most  municipalities  afford  a 
sewer  outlet  for  such  wastes,  as  being  most  economical  and  satisfactory  policy  for 
the  community.  This  is  an  added  reason  why  the  borough  should  take  up  the 
problem  and  afford  sewerage  facilities  to  everybody. 

"When  the  sewer  system  shall  have  been  completed  and  all  sewage  shall  have 
been  delivered  to  the  outfall  proposed,  it  will  be  found  that  the  manufacturing 
wastes  may  distinctly  characterize  the  sewage  and  require  peculiar  facilities  for 
purification. 

"All  overhanging  privies  on  banks  of  streams  or  the  mill  races  should  be  at  once 
removed,  all  public  and  private  sewers  to  the  streams  should  be  discontinued  as 
soon  as  practicable,  the  existing  eewers  should  be  overhauled  and  some  of  them 
abandoned,  discharge  of  sewage  and  kitchen  drainage  into  street  gutters  should  cease, 
storm  water  should  be  excluded  from  the  sewers,  the  sewer  system  should  be  ex- 
tended as  rapidly  as  possible  and  plans  for  sewage  disposal  works  should  be  sub- 
mitted within  a  reasonable  time." 

Brockwayville,  Jefferson  County,  population  about  2,000,  is  situated 
on  Little  Toby  Creek  near  the  northeastern  border  of  the  county. 
Its  industries  are  small  and  include  the  Brockway  Machine  Bottle 
Company's  glass  plant,  a  macaroni  factory  giving  employment  to 
about  fifteen  persons,  a  handle  factory,  and  a  tool  factory,  each  with 
about  half  a  dozen  employees.    Coal  mining  is  the  dominant  interest 

151 


of  tlic  borough  and  the  surrounding  region.  Many  of  the  coal  work- 
ings arc  exhausted  and  the  future  of  the  industry  in  this  vicinity  is 
problematical.  Water  is  supplied  to  the  public  by  the  Brockway 
Crystal  Water-  Company,  deriving  its  supply  from  Whetstone  Run, 
a  mountain  stream  with  a  wooded  and  practically  uninhabited  water- 
shed. 1 1  is  :i  gravity  system  and  used  by  about  three-fourths  of  the 
population,  the  remainder  depending  upon  wells.  The  same  company 
supplies  some  250  persons  outside  of  the  town,  including  the  adjoiu- 
ing  village  of  Crenshaw.  The  borough  has  no  public  sewer  system 
but  there  are  some  twenty-three  private  sewers  discharging  sewage 
into  the  creek,  a  part  of  them  serving  several  families.  Privies  are 
in  general  use,  some  of  them  being  on  the  bank  of  the  stream.  There 
i<2  a  large  number  of  cesspools  receiving  kitchen  waste,  but  much  of 
ii  uoes  to  the  ground  or  by  individual  drains  to  the  creek.  There 
is  no  important  pollution  from  industrial  wastes. 

Strattanville,  (Marion  County,  is  a  borough  with  a  population  of 
300  and  is  situated  on  a  ridge  above  Stratton  Run  about  three  miles 
east  of  Clarion,  the  county  seat.  Although  but  two  miles  from  the 
Clarion  River,  at  a  point  some  five  miles  above  that  borough,  its 
drainage  goes  to  Stratton  Run  and  thence  to  Piney  Creek,  which 
enters  the  Clarion  River  some  distance  below  Clarion.  Its  industries 
aie  insignificant.  The  inhabitants  derive  water  from  individual  dug 
wells  and  four  springs.  There  are  no  sewers,  each  property  having 
individual  outside  privies,  a  few  of  them  with  board-lined  vaults, 
and  one  property  has  a  percolating  cesspool.  Kitchen  waste  is  gener- 
ally deposited  to  the  ground,  in  two  instances  discharging  to  the  high- 
way. 

Clarion,  Clarion  County,  population  2,800,  is  a  borough  and  the 
county  seat.  It  is  situated  near  the  central  part  of  the  county  on 
the  Clarion  River  in  an  agricultural  region.  The  surrounding  terri- 
tory produces  coal,  natural  gas,  and  petroleum.  A  State  Normal 
School  is  located  here  with  an  enrollment  of  500  students  and  the 
industries  comprise  a  glass  bottle  plant  with  about  110  employees  and 
a  cigar  factory  with  about  eighty  employees.  The  borough  is  built 
upon  the  south  bank  of  the  river  which  here  flows  through  a  narrow 
gorge  about  500  feet  below  the  level  of  the  town.  About  half  the 
population  obtains  drinking  water  from  wells  and  springs  in  the 
borough,  the  others  purchasing  water  from  the  Clarion  Water  Com- 
pany, which  also  maintains  a  fire  service,  the  total  daily  consumption 
averaging  about  200,000  gallons.  The  original  source  of  the  com- 
pany's supply  was  die  Clarion  River,  but  this  became  so  badly  pol- 
luted, that  recourse  was  had  to  McLains  Run  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  river.  The  discovery  and  development  of  a  rich  oil  field 
(  n  this  watershed  rendered  this  supply  unsafe  and  wells  were  driven 
along  the  shore  of  the  river.     These  yielded  excellent  water,  but  it 


152 


was  still  necessary  to  augmenl  the  supply  by  the  use  of  McLains 
Run  water  and  the  Clarion  River  in  extreme  emergencies.  An  at- 
tempt was  made  to  filter  the  McLains  Run  water,  but  the  filters 
which  were  installed  proved  inadequate.  On  July  23rd,  1007,  the 
Commissioner  of  Health  issued  a  permit  for  the  use  of  the  driven 
wells  and  required  the  abandonment  of  the  McLains  Run  and  the 
Clarion  River  supplies  or  the  installation  of  filters  adequate  to  purify 
any  waters  derived  from  these  sources.  There  are  both  public  and 
private  sewers  in  the  town  serving  about  three-fourths  of  the  popula- 
tion, part  of  the  sewers  discharging  into  the  Clarion  River  directly 
and  others  emptying  on  the  hillsides. 

Edenburg,  Clarion  County,  population  750,  is  a  borough  situated 
in  the  northwest  part  of  the  county  near  Canoe  Creek  and  about 
six  miles  from  its  confluence  with  the  Clarion  River.  The  town  is 
an  oil  and  gas  centre  of  considerable  importance  and  coal  is  abundant. 
The  surrounding  territory  is  well  farmed.  It  has  only. minor  indus- 
tries, including  a  machine  shop,  a  canning  factory,  a  planing  mill  and 
a  flour  mill.  On  Canoe  Creek,  near  the  borough,  there  is  the  nitro- 
glycerine plant  of  Ellis  Hall  &  Sons  Company.  There  is  a  municipal 
water  supply  derived  from  a  drilled  well  from  which  water  is  pumped 
to  four  tanks  and  thence  distributed  by  gravity.  Beside  this  supply 
there  are  some  fifty  drilled  and  thirteen  dug  wells  and  four  springs 
in  use.  The  only  sewerage  facilities  are  afforded  by  a  number  of  pri- 
vate sewers;  cesspools  and  privies  are  in  general  use,  and  the  soil 
being  of  a  clayey  nature  they  frequently  fill  up  and  overflow.  An  out- 
break of  typhoid  some  years  ago  was  traced  to  the  use  of  dug  well 
water.  It  is  estimated  that  the  sewage  of  about  275  persons  reaches 
the  stream,  directly  or  indirectly.  The  daily  wastes  from  the  nitro- 
glycerine plant  on  Canoe  Creek  near  the  borough  include  some  sul- 
phuric acid.  This  waste,  together  with  sulphur  and  salt  water  from 
springs  and  abandoned  oil  wells  renders  the  water  of  Canoe  Creek 
unfit  for  use  by  man  or  beast  and  constitutes  a  serious  pollution  of  the 
Clarion  River. 

Curllsville,  Clarion  County,  is  a  small  borough  with  a  population 
of  about  130,  situated  at  the' head  waters  of  Licking  Creek,  which 
enters  the  Clarion  River  at  Callensburg.  Three  individual  drains 
discharge  kitchen  waste  and  wash  water  to  the  highway  or  to  Licking 
Creek.  It  is  a  rural  community  without  industries,  water  works,  or 
sewers. 

Sligo,  Clarion  County,  population  600,  is  a  borough  situated  on 
Licking  Creek  about  three  miles  from  its  confluence  with  the  Clarion 
River  at  Callensburg.  Its  industries  include  the  plant  of  the  Sligo 
Fire  Brick  Company,  a  slaughter  house,  a  water  power  flour  mill, 
and  two  coal  mines  within  the  borough  limits.  There  is  no  public 
water  system,  the  inhabitants  using  private  dug  or  drilled  wells  and 


153 


springs.  The  Sligo  Fire  Brick  Company  derives  an  industrial  sup- 
ply from  Big  and  Little  Licking  Creeks.  While  there  are  no  public 
sewers,  some  twenty-live  pollutions  have  been  noted,  mostly  consist- 
ing of  the  discharge  of  kitchen  waste  to  highways  or  the  creek.  The 
slaughter  house  and  hog  pen  in  connection  therewith  produce  un- 
sanitary conditions  in  a  small  pond  near  the  creek. 

Rimersburg,  (Marion  County,  population  850,  is  situated  on  a  ridge 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  county  near  the  divide  between  the  Clarion 
River  and  Red  Bank  Creek  watersheds.  It  lies  at  the  head  waters 
of  Cherry  Bun  about  six  miles  from  its  confluence  with  Licking  Creek 
;.;  Callensburg  and  near  the  junction  of  the  latter  stream  with  the 
Clarion  River.  The  borough  appears  to  have  no  industries  of 
note.  The  citizens  derive  water  from  private  drilled  and  dug  wells, 
and  sewerage  facilites  are  limited  to  two  storm  sewers  eighteen  and 
Hi  teen  inches  in  diameter.  Several  properties  are  connected  to  these 
storm  sewers  discharging  both  sewage  and  kitchen  waste  into  them. 
In  some  instances  sewage  and  kitchen  waste  are  discharged  into  the 
highway,  but  waste  wash  water  generally  goes  to  the  ground. 

Callensburg,  Clarion  County,  population  250,  is  situated  on  high 
ground  at  the  junction  of  Licking  Creek  with  the  Clarion  River.  It 
is  reported  that  the  borough  has  no  industries.  Its  water  supply  is 
derived  mostly  from  individual  dug  wells  and  there  are  no  sewers 
of  any  kind,  kitchen  waste  and  wash  water  being  discharged  to  the 
ground  and  privies  in  general  use.  The  borough  has  excellent  natural 
drainage. 

St.  Petersburg,  Clarion  County,  population  about  500,  is  situated 
on  high  ground  about  two  miles  east  of  the  Allegheny  River  and 
Foxburg  and  just  north  of  the  Clarion.  The  production  of  oil  has 
for  many  years  been  the  principal  industry  of  the  inhabitants,  though 
the  oil  supply  is  gradually  diminishing.  The  borough  has  a  municipal 
water  works  deriving  its  supply  from  springs  and  drilled  wells  said 
to  be  of  excellent  quality.  The  borough  has  no  sanitary  sewers  and 
but  one  storm  sewer  about  100  feet  long.  Kitchen  waste  is  largely 
discharged  to  the  ground  but  in  a  number  of  instances  by  way  of  small 
drains  to  the  highway.  Considerable  of  the  garbage  from  the  borough 
is  dumped  at  the  outlet  of  this  storm  sewer,  producing  a  nuisance 
at  this  point. 

(c)  Typhoid  Fever.  In  Table  XXXIX  are  given  the  typhoid  cases 
reported  by  the  local  authorities  of  the  different  boroughs  of  this 
Division  of  the  Allegheny  basin  for  the  years  1906  to  1912  inclu- 
sive. 


154 


TABLE  XXXIX. 


Typhoid  Fever  Cases  Reported   for  the   Section   of  the  Allegheny    Basin    from    the 
Clarion  River  to  Red  Bank  Creek,   1906—1912,  inclusive. 


Rimersburg,     . 

Sligo 

Clarion,     

Bast   Brady,    . 

Curllsville,    ... 

Edenbnrg, 

Skippenville, 

St.    Petersburg 

Brockwayville, 

Jobnsonburg, 

Ridgway 

St.   Mary*.    ... 

Parker 

Bruin,     

Fairview 

Petrolia 


1906. 

1907. 

1908. 

1909. 

1910. 

1911. 

3 

1 

0 

2 

0 

3 

2 

1 

2 

1 

2 

0 

0 

0 

11 

10 

2 

5 

0 

0 

3 

2 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

15 

0 

1 

0 

3 

4 

4 

3 

2 

0 

0 

0 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

2 

0 

0 

0 

0 

.  0 

28 

42 

24 

14 

5 

23 

47 

322 

36 

28 

26 

3 

x  0 

0 

10 

3 

19 

1 

20 

20 

0 

0 

17 

76 

1 

0 

0 

0 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

Section  12. — Red  Bank  Creek  to  Mahoning  Creek. 

(a)  Along  Allegheny  River.  From  Eed  Bank  Creek,  the  Alle- 
gheny flows  in  two  long  bends  for  a  distance  of  about  nine  miles  in 
a  southeasterly  direction,  to  a  point  where  the  Mahoning  Creek  joins 
it  in  the  north  central  part  of  Armstrong  County.  Steep  bluffs  fol- 
low the  river  for  most  of  this  distance  and  they  are  largely  covered 
with  timber.  Farms  are  scattered  along  the  hillsides  and  on  the 
uplands  some  distance  from  the  stream.  Coal  mines  are  numerous 
throughout  this  section,  most  of  them  along  the  east  bank.  The  total 
population  of  this  portion  along  the  Allegheny  Eiver  is  1,550,  all  of 
which  is  rural. 

Bass,  yellow  perch,  pickerel,  and  pike  perch  have  been  placed  in 
the  river. 

Coal  mining  forms  the  principal  industry,  although  the  oil  produc- 
tion is  of  considerable  importance. 

The  Allegheny  Division  of  the  Pennsylvania  Bailroad  follows  the 
east  bank  of  the  river  through  this  section,  a  distance  of  nine  miles. 
There  are  no  other  railroads  within  this  area.  The  few  towns  are  all 
very  small  and  there  are  no  public  or  industrial  water  supplies. 

It  is  estimated  that  about  230  persons  contribute  sewage  to  the 
stream  but  coal  mine  drainage  forms  the  principal  polluting  factor. 
In  addition  to  a  number  of  small  workings,  there  are  four  mines  of 
greater  importance,  the  drainage  from  which  is  by  gravity  and 
amounts  to  approximately  555  gallons  a  minute. 


155 


(b)     Bed  Hank  Creek  Drainage  Area.    Red  Bank  Creek  originally 

bore  the  name  of  Sandy  Lick,  which  name  is  still  retained  for  its 
main  branch  coming  from  Clearfield  County.  The  creek  assumes  the 
name  of  Red  Bank  at  Brookville,  where  it  unites  with  the  "North 
Fork. 

Little  Bandy  ('reek,  the  main  tributary  of  Red  Bank  ('reek  below 
Brookville,  is,  at  its  month,  about  twenty-five  feel  wide  and  its  valley 
is  steep  and  wooded.  From  Brookville  in  the  west  central  part  of 
Jefferson  County,  Bed  Bank  Creek  Hows  in  a  general  southwesterly 
direction  to  Sunimerville  borough,  where  the  stream  turns  southward 
and  continues  in  its  course  until  it  leaves  Jefferson  County.  From 
this  poiut  it  forms  the  boundary  between  Clarion  County  on  the 
north  and  Armstrong  County  on  the  south.  Flowing  southwest  for 
about  ten  miles  it  swerves  sharply  to  the  south  and  again  to  the 
north,  forming  a  long  narrow  loop,  and  then  takes  a  westerly  direc- 
tion to  its  confluence  with  the  Allegheny  River  just  below  Brady's 
Bend  and  sixty-five  miles  from  Pittsburgh. 

The  headwaters  of  the  North  Fork  are  near  the  northeastern  bor- 
der of  Jefferson  County  in  a  wide,  barren,  rolling  valley,  with  only 
occasional  farms  along  its  banks.  It  flows  in  a  general  southwesterly 
direction  to  its  confluence  with  Sandy  Lick  Creek  at  Brookville. 
Within  the  boundary  of  Bine  Creek  township,  Jefferson  County,  the 
three  principal  streams,  Sandy  Lick,  North  Fork,  and  Mill  Creek, 
unite  to  form  Bed  Bank  Creek.  Sandy  Lick  rises  in  northwestern 
Clearfield  Count}'  and  flows  in  a  general  westerly  direction  to  Brook- 
ville, passing  in  its  course  DuBois,  Falls  Creek,  and  Beynoldsville. 
Mill  Creek,  its  chief  tributary,  joins  it  just  above  its  confluence  with 
the  North  Fork.  The  valley  of  Mill  Creek  is  quite  deep,  at  least 
300  feet  in  some  places,  with  rather  steep  slopes,  but  contains  no 
tributaries  of  notable  size.  North  Fork,  on  the  other  hand,  has  several 
important  affluents,  all  of  which  flow  through  wide  ravines.  Sandy 
Lick  flows  through  a  deep,  wide,  rugged  valley  and  numerous  tribu- 
taries enter  it  along  its  course.  There  are  few  farms  in  this  valley, 
most  of  the  country  being  waste  land.  At  its  mouth  it  is  about  fifty 
feet  wide  and  is  stained  yellow  from  mine  drainage. 

The  volume  of  water  in  Bed  Bank  Creek  is  extremely  irregular, 
varying  as  it  does  from  stages  of  high  flood  to  periods  of  almost  com- 
plete exhaustion.  This  extreme  variability  is  largely  the  consequence 
of  the  condition  of  the  surfaces  of  the  drainage  area  which  rapidly 
yield  the  water  which  they  receive.  The  fall  of  the  head  waters  is 
quite  rapid,  but  during  the  last  thirty  miles  it  averages  ten  feet  to 
the  mile.  A  gauging  of  this  creek  on  August  24th,  190S,  showed 
the  discharge  to  be  78.19  second  feet,  while  the  estimated  minimum 
discharge,  September  2Sth,  1908,  was  53  second  feet. 


156 


Rainfall  data  taken  at  Brookville  cover  a  total  period  of  twenty- 
two  years,  of  which  the  records  for  twenty  years  are  complete.  The 
annual  precipitation  in  inches  follows:  maximum,  55.48;  minimum, 
26.23,  and  the  mean  for  total  period,  40.97. 

The  Red  Bank  Creek  drainage  area  of  526  square  miles  is  narrow 
and  lies  between  the  basins  of  the  Clarion  River  and  Mahoning  Creek. 
A  narrow  and  distinct  ridge  divides  the  waters  of  the  Clarion  River 
and  Red  Bank  Creek.  By  far  the  larger  part  of  the  drainage  lies  on 
the  north  side,  the  basin  to  the  south  being  quite  closely  confined 
to  the  hills  which  overlook  the  creek,  excepting  the  territory  drained 
by  Little  Sandy  Creek.  Towards  the  north  the  North  Pork  extends 
far  up  to  the  Elk  County  line.  Red  Bank  Creek  flows  for  most  of  its 
length  through  a  deep,  rugged  ravine,  except  in  the  region  of  Fair- 
mount.  Here  the  valley  widens  and  the  country  has  been  brought 
under  the  plow,  but  by  far  the  greater  part  of  the  country  bordering 
Red  Bank  Creek  is  rough  and  rugged  with  steep,  precipitous  descents 
to  water  level.  Receding  from  the  main  water  course,  the  country 
becomes  less  rugged,  though  still  decidedly  hilly.  The  summits  along 
the  northern  divide,  between  Red  Bank  Creek  and  the  Clarion  River, 
range  from  500  to  625  feet  above  the  water  level  in  Red  Bank  Creek, 
the  highest  point  being  1,750  feet  above  sea  level.  The  descent  from 
this  divide  to  Red  Bank  Creek  is  much  sharper  than  the  northern 
slope  towards  the. Clarion  River.  The  bed  of  Red  Bank  Creek  for  most 
of  its  length  is  very  rocky  and  sulphurous  deposits  from  mine  drain- 
age are  very  general.  At  its  mouth  the  creek  is  about  250  feet  wide 
and  is  badly  stained  by  mine  drainage,  especially  from  the  north. 

This  stream  has  been  valuable  as  an  outlet  for  the  lumber  in 
Clarion,  Armstrong  and  Jefferson  Counties  and  many  dams  have  been 
built  on  it  for  this  purpose,  but  these  dams  have  fallen  into  disuse. 
To  facilitate  the  marketing  of  the  timber  in  these  counties,  this  stream 
was  declared  a  public  highway  from  Brookville  to  its  confluence  with 
the  Allegheny  River. 

The  total  population  of  the  basin  is  61,760,  divided  in  the  following 
proportions:  urban  29,110;  rural,  32,650.  The  rural  population  is 
approximately  fifty-seven  to  the  square  mile. 

Seven  municipalities,  having  a  population  of  over  1,000  each,  are 
situated  in  this  basin.  DuBois,  with  a  population  of  13,000,  is  the 
largest  town  on  the  shed. 

The  following  list  shows  the  water  power  development  on  Red 
Bank  Creek  and  its  tributaries : 

Jefferson  County. 

Red  Bank  Creek,    Brookville,  2  plants. 

Red   Bank   Creek,    Summerville,  3  plants,   1— 90  H    P 

1—50  H.  P! 

North  Branch  Red  Bank  Creek,    Brookville,  2  plants. 

Sandy    Lick    Creek,    Brookville,  65  H.    P. 

North    Fork,     Richardsville,  80  H.   P.' 

Little  Sandy  Creek,   Sprankle,  16  H.   P. 

Little  Sandy  Creek,   Cool  Springs, 

11  157 


Clarion  County. 

Red  Bank  Creek,    New  Bethlehem,  150  H.  P. 

Pine  Creek,    New  Mayville. 

The  most  important  industries  of  the  Red  Bank  Creek  watershed 

are  agriculture,  coal  and  natural  gas  production,  and  industrial 
plants  engaged  in  tanning  and  the  manufacture  of  glass,  clay  pro- 
ducts, and  pig  iron.  Gas  is  produced  practically  throughout  the 
watershed.  Above  Brookville  there  are  thirty-five  coal  mines  and 
below  Brookville  forty-two  mines.  There  are  three  large  tanneries, 
the  Van  Tassel  Tannery  at  DuBois,  and  Elk  Tanning  Company  plants 
at  Falls  Creek  and  West  Reynoldsville.  The  Adrian  Furnace  Com- 
pany has  an  extensive  plant  just  above  Falls  Creek  producing  pig 
iron.  At  Falls  Creek  there  are  two  glass  plants  and  a  plant  each  at 
Brookville  and  New  Bethlehem,  and  at  Reynoldsville  there  are  two 
woolen  mills. 

The  territory  is  well  served  with  railroads,  aggregating  about  130 
miles. 

The  towns  having  water  works  systems  serving  the  public  wholly 
or  in  part  are  DuBois,  Reynoldsville,  Brookville,  Summerville,  New 
Bethlehem,  and  South  Bethlehem,  and  of  these  DuBois  aud  Brookville 
have  the  only  municipal  water  works.  The  DuBois  municipal  supply 
is  derived  from  Auderson  Creek  on  the  Susquehanna  watershed.  Wells 
aud  springs  are  largely  used  by  individuals  aud  a  part  of  the  town 
is  supplied  by  private  system  of  John  E.  DuBois,  taking  water  from 
springs  and  streams  in  the  vicinity.  Reynoldsville  and  a  small  por- 
tion of  West  Reynoldsville  are  supplied  by  the  Reynoldsville  Water 
Company  with  water  from  Pitch  Pine  Run  and  two  wells.  Private 
wells  and  springs  are  also  used.  The  Brookville  municipal  supply 
comes  from  the  North  Fork,  one  of  the  main"  tributaries  of  Red  Bank 
Creek.  The  water  is  filtered.  Summerville  has  two  private  com- 
panies, the  Peoples  Water  Company  and  the  Summerville  Water  Com- 
pany, together  serving  less  than  one-half  the  population;  the  balance 
use  private  wells  and  springs.  Springs  and  wells  form  the  source 
of  supply  for  both  companies.  .  New  Bethlehem  and  a  small  portion 
of  South  Bethlehem  are  supplied  by  the  Citizens  Water  Company  of 
New  Bethlehem,  whose  supply  is  derived  from  Red  Bank  Creek  and 
subjected  to  nitration.  A  number  of  private  industrial  enterprises 
have  their  own  supplies  derived  from  streams,  wells  or  springs ;  »at 
Falls  Creek  the  Elk  Tanning  Company  derives  a  supply  from  Falls 
Creek,  augmented  by  wells ;  at  West  Reynoldsville  the  same  company 
uses  water  from  a  series  of  driven  wells;  at  Brookville  several  of  the 
plants  are  supplied  from  private  springs;  at  Conifer  the  Allegheny 
River  Mining  Company  derives  a  supply  from  Beaver  Run  for  boiler 
purposes,  consumption  being  estimated  at  100,000  gallons  a  day; 
at  Ramseytown  the  Shawmut  Mining  Company  draws  water  for  in- 
dustrial purposes  from  a  drilled  well.    Thus  it  is  seen  that  the  waters 

158 


of  the  stream  and  its  main  tributaries  are  used  for  domestic  purposes 
at  Brookville  and  New  Bethlehem  and  bui  little  used  for  industrial 
purposes. 

On  July  23rd,  1009,  a  sample  of  water  taken  from  tin;  centre 
of  Eed  Bank  Creek  about  filly  feet  above  New  Bethlehem  water 
works  intake  showed  from  live  to  six  parts  acid  in  a  million. 
Another  sample  taken  on  the  same  day  along  the  north  bank  of 
the  creek  and  about  one-quarter  mile  above  New  Bethlehem  water- 
works intake  showed  from  three  to  four  parts  acid  in  a  million. 
On  August  14th,  1000,  a  test  of  the  water  of  Red  Bank  Creek  at  its 
junction  with  the  Allegheny  River,  showed  five  parts  acid  in  a  million. 
On  August  13th,  1000,  a  test  of  the  water  of  North  Fork  Creek  at 
Brookville  showed  eighteen  parts  alkalinity  in  a  million. 

DuBois,  Reynoldsville,  Brookville  and  New  Bethlehem  have  the 
only  public  sewer  systems  of  any  extent,  while  Reynoldsville,  West 
Reynoldsville,  Summerville,  New  Bethlehem  and  South  Bethlehem  all 
have  a  greater  or  less  number  of  private  sewers.  It  is  estimated  that 
20,020  persons  above  and  7,670  persons  below  Brookville,  a  total  of 
27,600  persons,  contribute,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  sewage  pol- 
lution to  the  waters  of  Red  Bank  Creek.  The  industrial  wastes  dis- 
charged into  the  stream  are  quite  extensive  and  mention  is  here  made 
of  the  most  important  of  these  pollutions.  The  Van  Tassel  Tannery 
at  DuBois  contributes  about  400,000  gallons  a  day  of  characterictic 
tannery  wastes  containing  tan  liquor,  lime  wTater,  and  probably  some 
sulphuric  acid.  The  Adrian  Furnace  Company,  just  above  Falls 
Creek,  discharges  wastes  containing  in  suspension  large  quantities 
of  finely  divided  slag  wrhich  forms  a  troublesome  deposit.  The  Falls 
Creek  Tannery  of  the  Elk  Tanning  Company  discharges  into  the  creek 
extensive  wastes  from  hide  soakings,  lime  water  and  bleach  water. 
At  Reynoldsville,  the  Reynoldsville  Woolen  Company  is  said  to  use 
4,000  gallons  of  water  a  day,  depositing  wastes  containing  soap,  sal- 
soda,  wool  oil,  and  dye  stuffs  through  a- bed  of  cinders  into  Pitch 
Pine  Run.  Wastes  from  the  Sykes  Woolen  Mills,  where  the  water 
consumption  is  said  to  be  15,000  gallons  a  day  are  also  discharged 
into  this  run  and  are  probably  similar  in  character.  The  Elk  Tan- 
ning Company  at  West  Reynoldsville  discharges  wastes  from  hide 
soakings,  lime  water  and  bleach  water.  Of  the  thirty-five  coal  mines 
inspected  above  Brookville,  five  have  pump  drainage,  the  amount  of 
which  is  5,425  gallons  a  minute;  from  the  remaining  thirty,  5,255 
gallons  of  mine  water  a  minute  drain  naturally  and  discharge  into 
Red  Bank  Creek  or  its  tributaries.  Of  the  forty-two  mines  noted 
below  Brookville,  thirty-three  have  natural  drainage,  amounting  to 
3,160  gallons  a  minute,  and  nine  depend  upon  pumps  which  deliver 
2,250  gallons  a  minute. 


159 


DuBois,  Clearfield  County,  population  about  1:1,000,  is  situated  in 
the  northwestern  part  of  the  county  near  the  Jefferson  County  line 
on  Sandy  Lick  Creek,  (the  largesl  branch  of  Red  Bank  Creek),  enter- 
ing Red  Bank  Creek  at  Brookville.  Sandy  Lick  Creek  is  practically 
the  upper  portion  of  Red  Bank  Creek.  DuBois  is  a  coal  mining,  rail- 
road and  manufacturing  town,  though  originally  founded  on  the  luin- 
ber  industry.  Its  industrial  plants  include  repair  shops  of  the  Buffa- 
lo, Rochester  and  Pittsburgh  Railroad  Company,  employing  about  450 
men,  and  car  shops  employing  280  hands;  the  DuBois  Iron  Works, 
with  about  100  men,  manufacturing  gas  engines  and  steam  pumps;  the 
A.  R.  Van  Tassel  Tannery  with  about  100  men,  handling  about  250 
hides  a  day:  a  wood-working  plant,  a  grist  mill,  machine  shops,  a 
brewery,  and  a  distillery.  The  borough  has  a  municipal  water  supply 
derived  from  Anderson  Creek,  just  over  the  divide  eight  miles  to  the 
east  and  tributary  to  the  Susquehanna  River.  From  a  small  im- 
pounding reservoir  with  a  population  of  200  persons  on  its  thirty 
square  miles  of  watershed,  the  water  is  conducted  by  way  of  a  tunnel 
through  the  mountain  to  a  gate  house  on  the  western  slope  and  thence 
to  the  distributing  mains.  About  sixty  per  cent,  of  the  property 
owners  use  the  public  supply,  the  remainder  getting  their  drinking 
water  from  dug  and  drilled  wells,  springs,  and  the  private  water  sys- 
tem of  John  E.  DuBois.  This  private  water  system  of  Mr.  DuBois  sup- 
plies water  for  industrial  purposes  to  several  plants  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  borough  and  to  the  residents  in  that  section.  There  is 
also  a  connection  with  the  municipal  system  for  the  purpose  of  aug- 
menting the  borough  supply  in  times  of  drought.  The  sources  of  sup- 
ply are  several  small  streams,  tributary  to  Sandy  Lick  Creek,  in- 
cluding Narrows  Creek,  Wolf  Creek,  Whipple  Creek,  Spring  Run, 
and  numerous  springs.  The  watersheds  are  uninhabited  and  con- 
trolled by  the  owner  of  the  water  works,  who  is  conducting  reforesting 
operations  thereon  and  carefully  protects  the  supply.  The  borough 
has  a  municipal  sewer  system  with  a  single  twenty-four  inch  outlet, 
and  in  addition  has  secured  control  of  a  number  of  private  sewers, 
making  a  total  of  fourteen  miles  of  sewers  under  municipal  owner- 
ship. It  is  estimated  that  10,000  persons  contribute  sewage  pollution. 
Aside  from  the  domestic  sewage  pollution,  the  stream  is  contaminated 
at  DuBois  by  industrial  wastes  from  the  A.  R.  Van  Tassel  Tannery. 
Its  wastes  include  tan  liquors,  lime  water  from  dehairing,  and  some 
sulphuric  acid,  and  amount  in  all  to  about  400,000  gallons  a  day  of 
Liquid  wastes.  Other  industries  here  contribute  manufactural  wastes 
probably  of  little  importance. 

In  a  decree  relative  to  sewerage  issued  to  DuBois  by  the  Commis- 
sioner of  Health  in  April,  1909,  may  be  found  the  following  discus- 
sion of  the  situation  there: 

"It  is  plainly  evident  that  general  extensions  to  the  borough  sewer  system  are 
needed.     Grades  will  be  ample,   inspection  manholes  will  be  placed  at  street  inter- 

160 


sections  and  at  changes  in  line  or  grade  as  has  been  the  custom  with  the  old 
sewers.  Ventilation  is  .secured  through  perforated  manhole  covers.  The  entire 
system  now  constructed  is  efficient  with  the  exception  of  the  main  trunk  and  inter- 
cepting sewers  on  the  flats.  These  sewers  were  built  in  eighteen  hundred  and 
ninety-four,  before  the  dam  was  erected  on  the  stream  below  the  furnace.  Since 
the  formation  of  the  pool  above  the  dam  whose  normal  level  is  two  feet  above 
the  invert  of  the  trunk  sewer  outlet  the  water  is  constantly  backflooded  in  this  sewer 
and  the  interceptor  for  a  long  distance  up-stream  and  when  the  overflowing  of  the 
meadows  occurs  this  backflooding  is  even  more  extended.  Jn  January  of  this  year, 
on  the  date  of  the  Department's  inspection,  the  top  of  the  said  sewer  was  sub- 
merged  eighteen   inches   at   the   outlet. 

"The  coal  mines  in  the  vicinity  are  operated  by  shafts  generally  speaking,  and 
the  water  is  pumped  therefrom.  The  coal  deposit  is  not  inexhaustable.  The  shutting 
down  of  the  mines  or  the  abandonment  of  the  field  will  ultimately  result  in  a  reduction 
to  a  very  large  degree  of  the  acidity  of  Sandy  Lick  Creek.  The  nuisance  which 
now  exists  in  the  stream  must  increase  if  no  change  is  brought  about  and  the 
menace  to  public  health  by  sewage  pollution  of  the  water  which  now  exists,  es- 
pecially during  high  stages  of  the  streams  when  the  germicidal  effects  -of  the  acids 
are  largely  dissipated  through  dilution,  would  also  increase  as  the  years  go  by 
if  no  changes  were  made  in  the  method  of  sewage  disposal.  It  is  easily  possible 
for  pathogenic  organisms  to  be  transported  down  stream  to  the  water  works  intake 
at  New  Bethlehem  and  be  introduced  into  the  homes  of  the  water  consumers  in 
that  borough." 

Falls  Creek,  Jefferson  County,  population  2,000,  is  a  borough  situ- 
ated in  the  extreme  eastern  part  of  Jefferson  County  on  Sandy  Lick 
Oreek,  the  principal  tributary  of  Red  Bank  Creek,  and  about  three 
miles  downstream  from  DuBois,  Clearfield  County.  The  industries 
of  the  borough  and  its  immediate  vicinity  include  plants  for  the 
manufacture  of  window  glass,  plate  glass,  brick  works,  planing  mill, 
a  large  tannery  of  the  Elk  Tanning  Company,  extensive  furnaces  of 
the  Adrian  Furnace  Company,  and  stone  quarries.  Practically  the 
entire  population,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  contribute  sewage  to 
the  stream.  The  Adrian  Furnace  Company,  just  above  the  town,  has 
a  plant  for  the  granulation  of  its  slag,  a  process  resulting  in  the 
discharge  of  large  quantities  of  slag  in  a  finely  divided  state  into  the 
stream.  At  times  of  high  water  this  material  is  washed  down  and 
deposited  on  the  flooded  lowlands  below,  where  it  is  said  to  cause 
damage  to  the  land  so  affected.  The  most  serious  pollution  at  Falls 
Creek  is  caused  by  the  wastes  from  the  Elk  Tanning  Company's  tan- 
nery. This  is  located  on  Falls  Creek  near  its  junction  with  Sandy 
Lick  Creek.  It  is  a  large  plant  having  a  capacity  of  about  400  hides 
a  day.  The  daily  liquid  wastes  from  this  plant  include  water  from 
hide  soaking,  lime  water,  and  bleach  water.  It  is  reported  that  in 
1897  an  outbreak  of  anthrax  occurred  among  cattle  drinking  the 
waters  of  Sandy  Lick  Creek  below  Falls  Creek. 

In  October,  1910,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  issued  a  decree  rela- 
tive to  water  Avorks  to  Falls  Creek  borough.  In  it  may  be  found  the 
following  discussion : 

"The  greater  portion  of  the  watershed  area  tributary  to  the  proposed  storage 
reservoir  in  Falls  Creek  is  farm  land  in  a  high  degree  of  cultivation,  while  a  portion 
of  it  is  woodland,  chiefly  along  portions  of  the  creek.  Under  normal  conditions 
the  watershed  will  comprise  seven  square  miles  with  a  population  of  fifty-seven  per 
square  mile.  The  Kyle  Run  watershed  which  is  available  in  emergencies  com- 
prises six  square  miles  with  a  population  of  twenty  per  square  mile,  making  an 
average  population  on   the  drainage  area   of  forty   per  square  mile.     The  occupied 


161 


estates  on   Falls  Creek   art    for   the  most    part   scattered   with    the  exception   of  a 

small  group  of  houses  Called  Rockdale  Mills,  which  is  near  the  creek  and  about 
two  and  one  half-miles  above  the  dam  sit.'.  A  number  of  the  farm  dwellings  are 
in  close  proximity  to  the  stream  or  its  tributaries.  In  view  of  the  extensive 
settlement  of  the'  territory  it  would  not  be  surprising  to  find  a  considerable 
pollution  of  the  creek  water.  Analysis  of  samples  taken  by  the  Department  on 
August  fifteenth,  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  ten,  show  this  to  be  the  case. 
The  results  of  these  analyses  were  as  follows: 


B.  Coli 
per  c,  •-. 


1    Falls  Creek,  1,100  ft.  above   intake  pipe 

l'.  Falls   Creek    Dear   Rockdale   Village 

;.    Kyle  Kim  above  Intersection  with  lulls  Creek, 

L  Tap  in   Palls   Creek    Borougb 

5.  Tap   iu   Tails  Creek    Borough,    


"In  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  two  one  ease  of  typhoid  fever  occurred  on 
the  Falls  Creek  watershed  and  in  one  thousand  nine  hundred  ami  three,  four 
eases.  In  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  eight  there  was  a  case  of  typhoid  fever 
on  the  Kyle  Run  watershed.  In  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  nine,  as  already 
noted,  typhoid  fever  existed  just  above  the  intake  of  the  water  works  and  to  avoid 
contamination  of  the  supply  from  this  source,  a  new  intake  was  constructed  at 
a  point  further  up-stream. 

"A  single  case  of  tvphoid  fever  on  the  watershed  of  a  public  water  supply  may 
readily  result  in  dangerous  illness  to  a  large  portion  of  the  community  using  this 
water*  and  be  the  cause  of  many  deaths.  This  fact  was  learned  at  terrible  cost 
at  Plymouth,  Butler,  Nanticoke,  and  other  places  where  well  known  epidemics 
have  occurred.  At  Nanticoke  a  portion  of  the  community  receiving  the  public 
supply  was  free  from  the  disease.  Investigation  showed  that  the  water  delivered 
to  this  district  had  the  benefit  of  sedimentation  in  a  reservoir  which  proved  a  sufficient 
barrier  to  prevent  the  transmission  of  the  disease.  A  number  of  the  cases  of 
typhoid  fever  which  have  occurred  in  Falls  Creek  borough  in  the  past  few  years 
wrere  in  portions  of  the  town  not  supplied  with  public  water  and  were  attributed  to 
the  use  of  polluted  wells  and  springs.  There  are  also  a  number  of  cases  which 
may  have  been  due  to  the  infection  of  the  public  water.  The  utmost  vigilance  is 
nee'essarv  to  reduce  the  danger  of  such  infection. 

"It  is  not  apparent  to  the  Department  from  what  source  the  municipality  is  to 
obtain  the  money  necessary  to  defray  the  cost  of  the  dam  and  its  appurtenances 
and  the  new  pumping  station  machinery  and  additional  water  pipe  lines.  If  the 
facts  have  been  correctly  reported  to  the  Department,  it  is  conclusive  that  the 
municipality  does  not  have  funds  to  do  all  of  this  work  and  to  erect  a  water  filter 
plant.  Nevertheless,  it  has  been  hereinbefore  shown  that  the  water  is  not  safe 
to  drink  in  its  raw  state.  There  should  bo  a  treatment  plant  erected.  While  the 
impounding  reservoir  proposed  would,  under  normal  conditions,  afford  somewhat 
of  a  barrier  to  the  transmission  of  water-borne  diseases,  at  the  same  time  it  would 
not  be  a  barrier  sufficient  to  garrison  the  town  against  an  invasion  of  an  epidemic. 
The  Department  would  not  permit  a  private  corporation  to  obtain  the  proposed 
source  from  Falls  Creek  except  in  connection  with  a  water  filter  plant,  and,  there- 
fore, the  Department  should  not  discriminate  in  favor  of  a  municipal  corporation 
since  the  public  would  suffer  equally  in  the  event  of  an  outbreak  of  water-borne 
disease.  The  risk  to  public  health  proposed  by  the  municipality  is  hazardous  and 
one  which  the  Commonwealth  is  not  willing  to  bear  with  the  local  authorities. 
It  is  possible  that  the  town  can  enter  into  contract  with  some  filter  company 
whereby  tin-  latter  will  contract  to  erect  a  water  filter  plant  and  receive  payment 
therefor  by  yearly  installments  on  a  basis  that  will  bring  the  cost  of  this  plant 
within  the  financial  ability  of  the  town  to  assume. 

Reynoldsville,  Jefferson  County,  population  4,000,  is  situated  on  the 
cast  bank  of  Sandy  Lick  Greek  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county  and 
mi  the  opposite  side  of  the  creek  from  West  Reynoldsville  borough. 
While  the  surrounding  territory  is  largely  agricultural,  there  are  bi- 
tuminous coal  deposits  which  are  extensively  worked.  The  indus- 
tries in  the  borough  mid  its  immediate  vicinity,  not  including  West 
Reynoldsville,  comprise  the  Reynoldsville  Woolen  Mills,  with  about 
forty  employees,  the  Sykes  Woolen  Mills,  with  about  thirty-five  em- 

102 


ployees,  a  small  structural  steel  and  iron  works,  1 1 1 r-  Reynoldsville 

Distillery,  and  two  brick  works.  Water  is  supplied  to  the  public  by 
the  Reynoldsville  Water  Company  from  a  surface  supply  on  Pitch 
Pine  Run  and  one  of  its  tributaries,  augmented  occasionally  by  pump- 
ing from  two  drilled  wells.  On  the  watershed  of  the  two  surface  sup- 
plies there  are  occupied  estates.  Two  public  drinking  fountains  are 
supplied  from  a  spring  which  appears  extremely  liable  to  pollution. 
The  public  water  is  in  quite  general  use.  There  are  five  public  sewer 
outlets  in  the  borough,  three  of  them  being  into  Sandy  Lick  Creek 
and  one  each  into  Soldier  Run  and  Pitch  Pine  Run,  the  system  aggre- 
gating 3.7  miles  in  length,  ranging  in  size  from  four  to  eighteen  inches 
and  receiving  both  sewage  and  storm  water.  There  are  also  a  number 
of  private  sewers  from  individual  properties  entering  the  creek  and 
the  runs.  Pitch  Pine  Run,  forming  the  source  of  water  supply,  con- 
sists, in  dry  weather,  of  practically  nothing  but  the  sewage  of  the 
borough,  while  Soldier  Run  receives  the  drainage  from  a  number  ol 
coal  mines  as  well  as  borough  sewage,  both  streams  forming  in  con- 
sequence nuisances  and  menaces  to  the  health  of  the  inhabitants. 
There  are  many  drains  for  kitchen  wastes  discharging  to  the  high- 
ways and  to  the  streams,  and  numerous  privies  overhanging  the  runs 
contribute  direct  pollution.  On  May  8th,  1908,  the  Commissioner 
of  Health  issued  a  permit  for  the  temporary  discharge  of  sewage  from 
a  certain  proposed  sewer  and  requiring  that  plans  for  a  comprehen- 
sive sewerage  system  and  sewage  disposal  works  for  the  treatment 
of  the  borough  sewage  be  prepared  and  submitted  to  the  Commis- 
sioner of  Health  for  approval.  The  Commissioner  of  Health  also 
urged  the  policy  of  co-operation  in  the  matter  of  sewage  disposal 
with  the  borough  of  West  Reynoldsville  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
creek.  Industrial  wastes  are  contributed  by  the  Reynoldsville  Woolen 
Mills,  the  Sykes  Woolen  Mills,  and  the  distillery.  The  wastes  from 
the  Reynoldsville  Woolen  Mills,  where  4,000  gallons  of  water  are 
used  daily,  contain  soap,  sal-soda,  wool  oil  and  dye  stuffs  and  are 
allowed  to  percolate  through  cinders  before  entering  Pitch  Pine  Run. 
At  the  Sykes  Woolen  Mills  the  daily  consumption  of  water  is  said 
to  be  15,000  gallons.  The  wastes  from  this  plant  also  enter  Pitch 
Pine  Run.  The  wastes  from  the  distillery  are  probably  of  compara- 
tively small  importance. 

The  sewerage  decree  of  May,  1908,  contained  the  following  state- 
ments by  the  Commissioner  of  Health  relevant  to  sewerage: 

"From  the  several  mining  operations  on  Soldier  Run  watershed  is  discharged 
daily  a  considerable  volume  of  sulphur  wafer  and  the  characteristics  are  evidenced 
all  along  the  stream  to  its  mouth.  The  petitioners  represent  that  this  acid  germi- 
cide will  neutralize  sewage  poisons  which  may  be  discharged  into  the  water  from 
the_  proposed  sewer.  Sandy  Lick  Creek  above  Reynoldsville  also  receives  mine 
drainage  even  above  DuBois. 

"Sandy  Lick  Creek  rises  in  Clearfield  County  east  of  DuBois  in  the  Allegheny 
Mountains  at  the  summit  of  the  divide  between  the  great  Susquehanna  and  Ohio 
River  basins  and  takes  a  generally  westerly  course  for  twenty-seven  miles  to  the 
confluence  with  the  North  Fork  at  the  borough  of  Brookville,  Jefferson  County, 
whence   the  stream   continues  southwesterly  under   the   name   of  Red   Bank   Creek, 

163 


forming  the  boundary  Line  between  Clarion  County  to  the  north  and  Armstrong 

Count?  to  the  south,  to  the  Allegheny  River,  which  it  enters  a  short  distance  below 
East  Brad;  borough.  In  its  course  below  Brookville,  a  distance  of  forty  live  miles, 
which  is  also  traversed  by  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  (low  grade  branch),  there 
are  five  small  boroughs,  the  largest  of  which  has  a  population  of  about  twelve 
hundred.  Brookville  is  twelve  miles  below  ReynoldBville.  It  is  the  county  seat 
nnd  has  a  population  of  under  three  thousand.  So  far  as  the  Department  is  aware. 
the  stream  from  DuBois  to  the  Allegheny  River  is  not  used  for  public  water 
supply  purposes.  The  adjacent  country  is  mostly  wild  and  the  banks  high  and 
precipitous,  becoming  more  so  as  the  river  is  approached,  until  within  the  last 
stretches  the  valley  is  a  deep  narrow  gorge.  The  harm  which  sewage  might  do 
in  this  stream  would  be  secondary  in  extent  to  that  which  it  might  do  after  reaching 
the  Allegheny  River,  the  waters  of  which  are  very  extensively  used  for  potable 
purposes.  It  is  in  the  interests  of  public  health  that  lied  Hank  (.'reek  and  its 
tributaries  should  be  preserved  fit  m  pollution  by  sewage  since  sewage  discharged 
anywhere  on  its  watershed  might  be  transmitted  in  a  day's  time  to  the  public 
water  works   of  the   municipalities   along   the   Allegheny   River   below. 

"Falls  Creek  borough  is  on  the  Sandy  Lick  Creek  at  the  mouth  of  Falls  Creek 
in  Jefferson  County  at  the  Clearfield  County  line.  It  is  a  borough  of  about  one 
thousand  population.  Here  there  is  a  large  tannery  owned  by  the  Elk  Tanning 
Company  from  which  the  wastes  are  discharged  into  Falls  Creek  branch  and  the 
pollution  is  markedly  evident  in  summertime. 

"At  DuBois  borough,  two  and  a  half  miles  above  and  northeast  of  Falls  Creek 
borough,  on  Sandy  Lick  Creek,  where  reside  ten  thousand  people,  there  is  a 
large  tannery  known  as  Van  Tassel's,  from  which  trade  waste  is  discharged  into 
the  creek.     The  sewers  of  the  town  also  empty  into  the  stream. 

"Just  above  Reynoldsville,  in  West  Reynoldsville,  there  is  a  large  tannery  owned 
by  the  Elk  Tanning  Company  wiicse  trade  wastes  are  discharged  into  Sandy  Lick 
Creek.  There  has  been  complaint  in  Reynoldsville  about  the  stench  during  low 
water  stages,  owing  to  the  sewage  from  the  above  mentioned  places.  The  water- 
shed is  about  one  hundred  and  ten  square  miles  in  extent  at  this  point.  The  farmers 
along  the  stream  below  Falls  Creek  and  above  Reynoldsville  have  occasionally  com- 
plained about  the  pollutions  and  the  injury  to  cattle  pastured  along  the  banks 
which  wade  in  the  waters  and  drink  thereof.  In  the  fall  of  eighteen  hundred  and 
ninety-seven,  anthrax  became  epidemic  among  cattle  belonging  to  farmers  whose 
properties  are  along  Sandy  Lick  Creek  in  this  territory. 

"It  appears  that  during  high  water  the  sewage  waters  overflow  the  banks  and 
cause  deposits  over  the  meadows  to  the  damage  of  hay  crops  and  injury  to  cattle 
pastured  in  the  field  or  that  eat  hay  gathered  from  the  meadow.  It  was  con- 
tended by  physicians  and  experts  that  the  cattle  which  died  from  anthrax  poison 
had  drunk  the  creek  water  polluted  by  the  wastes  from  the  tannery.  The  sewage 
from  Reynoldsville  may  not  be  a  greater  menace  to  public  health  than  the  tannery 
wastes.  Undoubtedly  both  should  cease  to  be  discharged  into  the  waters  of  the 
State.  Under  the  law  of  nineteen  hundred  and  five,  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Com- 
missioner of  Health  to  stop  stream  pollution.  It  is  reported  that  the  assessed 
valuation  of  Reynoldsville  is  about  one  million  dollars  and  that  its  borrowing 
capacity  to  the  constitutional  limit  of  indebtedness,  taking  into  account  the  present 
debt,  is  in  the  neighborhood  of  fifty  thousand  dollars,  a  sum  insufficient  to  estab- 
lish a  sewage  purification  works  for  the  treatment  of  the  mingled  sewage  and 
storm  water.  The  present  sewer  system  seems  to  have  been  built  with  the  idea 
of  discharging  the  sewage  and  storm  water  at  the  most  convenient  points  into 
the  streams.  Owing  to  their  small  sizes,  the  sewers  are  inadequate  to  carry  off 
all  of  the  storm  water  of  intense  downpours,  nevertheless,  their  total  discharge 
at  such  times  would  require  the  building  of  a  large  purification  plant  whose  cost 
would  be  prohibitive.  When  the  time  shall  have  arrived  for  the  actual  construction 
of  disposal  works,  only  house  drainage  and  a  very  limited  amount  of  roof  water 
should  be  delivered  to  the  plant.  Meantime,  whatever  sewers  may  be  built  should  be 
a  part  of  a  comprehensive  plan.  The  State  authorities  could  not  justly  approve 
of  desultory  sewer  extensions  which  ultimately  would  be  abandoned.  The  borough 
should  at  once  employ  competent  engineering  service  to  devise  a  sanitary  sewer  system 
for  the  entire  territory  within  its  limits,  using  as  much  of  the  existing  system  as 
may  be  practicable.  After  such  a  plan  is  approved  by  the  State  authorities,  the 
borough  can  then  build  sewers  from  time  to  time  as  called  for  in  any  street  or 
streets,  conforming  to  this  general  plan,  and  in  this  way  secure  the  greatest 
economy  and  efficiency.  The  perfected  plan  should  aim  to  collect  and  intercept 
all  existing  sewers  both  public  and  private,  including  the  industrial  wastes. 
Wool  scourings  are  a  particularly  difficult  kind  of  waste  to  treat.  This  can  be 
done  better  in  a  public  plant  than  in  a  plant  installed  therefor  at  the  mill.  It 
is  the  policy  of  some  municipalities  to  foster  its  industries  and  one  way  is  to 
afford  a  sewer  outlet.  Of  course,  such  suspended  matters  as  might  be  in  the 
sewage  whose  admittance  to  the  sewer  would  endanger  it  or  interfere  with  its 
functions  would  be  removed  on  the  premises  before  the  liquids  were  discharged 
into  the  sewer.  . 

"It  is  certain  that  all  improper  disposal  of  sewage  in  the  borough  and  adjacent 
thereto  must  cease  and  that  plans  to  obviate  pollution  must  be  adopted. 

"West  Reynoldsville  has  applied  for  permission  to  install  a  system  of  sewers. 
It  will  he  much  cheaper  for  this  borough  and  Reynoldsville  to  adopt  a  joint  inter- 
cepting sewer  and  sewage  disposal  plant  than  for  each  to  act  independently." 

164 


West  Reynoldsville,  Jefferson  County,  population  about  1,000,  is  a 
borough  situated  on  the  west  side  of  Sandy  Lick  Creek  directly  op- 
posite the  borough  of  Reynoldsville.  The  Reynoldsville  Tannery  of 
the  Elk  Tannine;  Company  is  located  here  and  is  the  chief  means  of 
support  of  the  inhabitants  and  the  only  industrial  plant  in  the  bor 
ough.  The  American  Silk  Company  has  works  employing  about  300 
persons  located  in  the  township  below  the  borough.  There  are  a  num- 
ber of  domestic  wells  'and  springs  scattered  about  the  borough  from 
which  water  is  drawn  for  domestic  uses,  while  the  Reynoldsville 
Water  Company  supplies  the  tannery  with  water  for  all  except  indus- 
trial purposes.  For  tanning  purposes  water  is  drawn  from  a  series 
of  driven  wells  on  the  company's  property.  There  is  only  one  public- 
sewer,  an  eighteen  inch  storm  sewer,  which,  however,  has  several 
sanitary  connections.  There  are  about  fifteen  cesspools  in  the  bor- 
ough used  exclusively  for  excreta  and  privies  are  in  general  use.  The 
universal  disposition  of  waste  water  from  houses  into  the  street  gut- 
ters and  into  the  small  runs  and  alleys  leading  to  the  runs  produces 
an  offensive  condition  in  the  summer.  The  soil  in  the  borough  is  of 
a  clayey  nature  not  favorable  for  percolating  cesspools  and  shallow 
earth  privy  vaults  and  they  are  not  unfrequently  found  full  to  over- 
flowing. The  slopes  and  numerous  springs  are  so  located  that  surface 
pollution  of  the  springs  and  wells  is  liable  to  happen  at  any  time. 
The  borough  authorities  have  under  consideration  plans  for  a  com- 
prehensive sewerage  system  and  the  Commissioner  of. Health  issued 
a  decree  on  May  7th,  1908,  urging  upon  the  borough  the  advisability 
of  co-operating  with  the  borough  of  Reynoldsville  in  the  matter  of 
future  sewage  disposal.  The  wastes  discharged  from  the  "Reynolds- 
ville" tannery  of  the  Elk  Tanning  Company  are  very  extensive,  from 
hide  soaking,  lime  water,  and  bleach  water. 

In  the  sewerage  decree  issued  by  the  Commissioner  of  Health  to 
West  Reynoldsville  in  May,  1908,  the  following  statements  may  be 
found : 

"It  is  evident  by  the  plan  that  the  borough  council  desires  that  the  State  De- 
partment of  Health  initiate  the  sewer  design.  It  appears  from  the  information  now 
at  hand  that  no  difficulty  will  be  encountered  in  obtaining  grades  for  the  sewers 
equivalent  to  a  fall  of  six  inches  in  one  hundred  feet  or  greater,  with  the  exception, 
possibly,  of  the  main  sewer  across  the  meadows.  As  laid  out,  the  sewers  will 
follow  closely  the  natural  topography,  thus  requiring  the  least  cut  to  obtain 
intersecting  grades  for  the  system.  The  sizes  of  the  sewers  need  not  be  greater 
than  necessary  to  remove  sewage  proper.  Six  inch  pipes  on  four  per  cent,  grades, 
or  greater,  should  be  ample  for  laterals.  The  size  of  the  outlet  might  be  governed 
somewhat  by  the  volume  of  sewage  discharged  from  the  tannery.  Such  a  volume 
will  be  much  larger  than  the  total  output  of  sewage  from  all  the  other  buildings  in 
the  borough.  Storm  water  and  drainage  from  the  run  should  be  excluded  from  the 
sewer.  A  moderate  amount  of  roof  water  at  sewer  ends  might  be  admitted  for 
flushing.  Surface  drainage  can  be  improved  most  economically  in  West  Reynolds- 
ville independent  of  the  problem  of  removal   of  sewage  from   the   community. 

"No  disease  is  more  dangerous  than  anthrax  and  no  infectious  disease  'harder 
to  eradicate  after  it  has  once  gained  a  foothold  in  a  community.  This  poison 
should  be  killed  at  the  outset  and  the  discharge  into  any  stream  of  tannery 
drainage  is  a  menace  provided  the  waters  are  subsequently  used  bv  man  or  beast. 
In  the  fall  of  eighteen  hundred  and  ninety-seven,  an  epidemic  of  anthrax  broke 
out  among  the  cattle  owned  by  the  farmers  whose  lands  abut   Sandy   Lick   Creek 

165 


between  West  Reynoldsville  and  Falls  Creek.  State  and  local  authorities,  after 
thorough  investigations,  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  the  disease  was  attributable 
to  the  infection  from  the  tanneries.  The  meadow  Lands  along  the  stream  are  subject 
to  overflow  and  the  grasses  are  thus  washed  by  sewage  water.  The  belief  would 
seem  to  have  some  foundation  in  fact  that  entile  pastured  along  the  stream,  or 
that  teed  upon  the  hay  cut  from  the  overflowed  meadows,  are  liable  to  be 
poisoned. 

"Not  only  the  tannery  wastes  hut  the  sewage  from  DuBois  and  Falls  Creek  and 
the  Reynoldsvillcs  may  tie  transmitted  down  stream  to  the  Allegheny  River  and  to  the 
water  works  intakes  of  the  numerous  municipalities  along  this  river's  banks  and  thus 
be  introduced  into  homes  of  water  consumers  in  a  sufficiently  active  pathogenic 
conditiuu  to  cause  sickness  and  death.  The  extent  of  the  menace  in  Red  Uank 
Creek  valley  is  secondary  to  the  menace  to  public  health  in  the  Allegheny  valley. 
The  interests  of  the  public  health  demand  that  these  upland  waters  should  be  pre- 
served in  their  purity.  The  question  of  tueir  use  is  nor  one  of  a  local  nuisance 
us  often  popularly  and  selfishly  thought  to  he  the  case.  West  Reynoldsville  cannot 
expect  a  permanent  right  to  discharge  its  sewage  into  Sandy  Lick  Creek  and  in 
anticipation  of  the  ultimate  purification  of  the  sewage,  the  borough  should  plan  its 
sewer  system  accordingly.  It  is  not  practicable  to  purify  surface  drainage  and 
sewage  combined  and  heno  the  necessity  for  the  exclusion  of  surface  waters  from  the 
sewers.  The  local  authorities  should  engage  the  set  vices  of  some  qualified  expert 
to  work  in  conjunction  with  the  local  engineer  in  initiating  a  comprehensive 
sanitary  sewer  design  for  the  collection  of  all  the  sewage  iir  the  borough  and  its 
conveyance  to  some  suitable  point  within  or  without  the  borough  lor  treatment. 
The  site  should  be  selected  and  outlined  plans  math'  tor  the  sewage  works  and 
these  should  be  submitted  to  the  Commissioner  of  Health  for  approval.  It  may 
then  appear  that  the  interests  of  public  health  will  be  subserved  by  granting 
temporary  permission  to  the  borough  to  discharge  the  sewage  into   the  creek. 

"The  council  of  Reynoldsville  has  made  an  application  for  permission  to  extend 
its  sewer  system  and  to  discharge  the  sewage  therefrom  into  the  waters  of  the 
State.  It  would  be  both  economical  and  best  that  the  two  municipalities  should 
adopt  a  joint  intercepting  sewer  and  sewage  disposal  plant.  This  should  prove  much 
cheaper  than  if  each  borough  were  to  proceed  independently.  The  mingling  of  the 
domestic  sewage  of  both  townb  with  the  industrial  wastes  from  the  tannery  and 
from  the  woolen  mills  would  facilitate  the  purification.  The  American  Silk  Com- 
pany have  works  employing  about  three  hundred  people  which  are  located  below 
the  borough  in  the  township,  from  which  sewage  is  discharged  into  the  creek 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  below  the  Reynoldsville  borough  sewer.  There  is  a 
community  of  interest  irrespective  of  municipal  boundaries  and  including  the 
public  and  private  corporations  which  can  best  be  represented  by  a  co-operative 
sewerage  and  sewage  disposal  plant.  The  project  should  be  worked  out  and 
submitted  to  the  Commissioner  of  Health  for  approval  and  then  the  sewers  built 
in  West  Reynoldsville  from  time  to  time  as  needed  should  conform  to  the  adopted 
plan  and  be  a  part  of  the  project,  which,  when  completed,  will  have  brought 
about  the  non-pollution  of  the  stream  in  the  territory  by  easy  and  practicable 
stages  in  an  economical  and  efficient  manner." 

Brookville,  Jefferson  County,  population  3,100,  is  a  borough  and 
the  county-seat  and  is  situated  at  the  confluence  of  the  North  Fork 
and  Sandy  Lick  Creek,  which  here  unite  to  form  Red  Bank  Creek. 
The  topography  is  irregular  and  the  .borough  is  built  upon  steep 
slopes  forming  the  banks  of  the  streams.  The  surrounding  terri- 
tory is  rich  in  coal  and  gas,  and  agricultural  pursuits  are  largely 
practised.  The  local  industries  include  the  Brookville  Glass  and 
Tile  Company,  manufacturing  window-glass  and  employing  150  per- 
sons, and  the  A.  I).  Deemer  Furnace  Company,  employing  seventy- 
five,  the  Brookville  Manufacturing  Company,  employing  about 
twenty-five  persons,  in  the  manufacture  of  wagons,  beside  a  foundry 
and  machine  shop,  two  breweries,  two  planing  mills,  each  employ- 
ing from  five  to  twenty  persons,  and  a  woolen  mill.  There  are 
two  small  water-power  developments  here  on  Red  Bank  Creek. 
Within  the  borough  is  located  the  Pennsylvania  Memorial  Home, 
maintained  by  the  Woman's  Relief  Corps  of  Pennsylvania  and  hav- 
ing about  forty  inmates.  Formerly  the  Brookville  Water  Company 
supplied  the  borough  with  water.     The  supply  was  taken  from  the 

166 


North  Fork  at  a  dam  within  the  borough  limils.  The  reservoir  so 
formed  was  formerly  used  for  lumbering  purposes  in  connection 
with  a  saw  mill  and  contained  decayed  timber,  receiving  as  well 
a  small  amount  of  drainage  from  the  borough.  The  watershed  for 
the  most  part  is  covered  with  thick  second  growth  timber  and  thinly 
settled  farm  land  with  a  small  village  with  a  population  of  perhaps 
seventy-five  persons,  and  just  above  Brookville  a  group  of  cottages 
with  a  summer  population  probably  not  exceeding  fifty.  The  system 
includes  three  storage  tanks  of  8,000  barrels'  capacity  each  and 
over  nine  miles  of  distributing  pipes  serving  some  600  taps,  the 
consumption  being  about  700,000  gallons  daily,  all  for  domestic 
purposes.  The  local  Board  of  Health  made  unsuccessful  attempts 
to  secure  filtration  or  equivalent  improvement  in  the  character 
of  the  water  supply  and  the  State  Department  of  Health  had  to 
take  the  matter  under  consideration.  The  industrial  plants  in 
several  cases  derive  private  supplies  from  springs.  The  principal 
part  of  the  borough  has  a  combined  sewerage  system.  There  are 
also  many  private  sewers  and  a  large  number  of  privies.  Probably  the 
entire  population  directly  or  indirectly  contributes  sewage  pollution  to 
the  stream. 

In  February  of  1910  a  typhoid  fever  epidemic  broke  out  in  Brook- 
ville and  the  State  Department  of  Health  went  there  and  conducted 
an  investigation  and  introduced  a  germicide  into  the  water  supplied 
by  the  water  company  to  the  town  for  drinking  purposes.  In  May  of 
that  year  the  Brookville  Water  Company  was  notified  that  it  must 
proceed  to  prepare  plans  for  the  installation  of  a  water  purification 
plant.  In  August  of  1910  the  Commissioner  of  Health  issued  a 
permit  approving  plans  for  the  construction  of  a  new  concrete  dam 
on  the  North  Fork  Creek  and  a  mechanical  filtration  plant,  pumping 
station,  and  a  force  main  to  the  town,  but  in  this  permit  the  plans 
for  the  dam  were  returned  by  the  Commissioner  of  Health  for  changes. 
The  space  provided  for  a  spillway  to  let  the  freshet  waters  from  the 
mountainous  drainage  areas  above  pass  without  injury  to  the  dam 
was  insufficient.  The  changes  were  made  in  the  .plans,  but  the  com- 
pany went  on  and  built  the  structure  without  conforming  to  these 
changes.  It  then  sold  the  works  to  the  town  of  Brookville.  Subse- 
quently a  Department  engineer  discovered  the  facts  and  the  Com- 
missioner of  Health  notified  the  borough  of  the  insecurity  of  the 
dam.  The  town  authorities  ridiculed  the  idea  and  engaged  in  some 
abuse  of  the  Department.  The  matter  was  placed  in  the  hands  of 
the  Attorney  General  and  the  residents  in  the  valley  below  were 
warned  by  the  Department.  Shortly  after,  on  July  17,  1912,  a  cloud- 
burst occurred  in  the  mountains  and  the  torrents  came  down,  flooded 
the  spillway  as  predicted  and  then  backed  up  and  flowed  over  the 
earth  embankment,  washing  it  out  and  nearly  undermining  the  foun- 


167 


•  lations  of  the  dam.  Considerable  damage  was  caused  and  the  bor- 
ough was  put  to  an  unnecessary  outlay  of  money.  Fortunately  no 
lives  were  sacrificed. 

Corsica,  Jefferson  County,  is  a  small  interior  borough  with  a  popu- 
lation of  about  400,  close  to  the  western  boundary  of  the  county, 
and  drained  by  a  small  run  tributary  to  Red  Bank  Creek  just 
about  four  miles  distant.  It  is  surrounded  by  good  farm  country  and 
underlain  by  coal  which  is  extensively  mined  in  the  vicinity.  There 
is  no  public  water  system,  the  inhabitants  deriving  their  supply  from 
many  private  dug  wells,  three  springs  and  three  drilled  wells. 
Kitchen  waste  is  generally  discharged  to  the  ground,  and  the  box 
privies  are  almost  universally  used  and  for  the  greater  part  well  cared 
for.  In  a  few  instances  kitchen  drainage  and  domestic  sewage  reach 
the  small  run. 

Summerville,  Jefferson  County,  population  S00,  is  a  borough  situ- 
ated on  Eed  Bank  Creek  near  the  western  boundary  of  Jefferson 
County.  It  is  in  an  active  coal  and  gas  producing  field,  having  two 
coal  mines  near  by.  The  only  industries  within  the  borough  are  a  saw 
mill  and  a  grist  mill.  There  are  three  water  power  developments  on 
Bed  Bank  Creek  here,  two  of  them  developing  respectively  90  H.  P. 
and  50  H.  P.  Over  one-half  of  the  public  obtain  water  for  domestic 
purposes  from  wells  and  springs,  the  others  deriving  their  supply 
from  two  small  water  companies,  the  Peoples  Water  Company,  furn- 
ising  possibly  200  persons  with  water  from  springs  augmented  by  a 
drilled  well,  and  the  Summerville  Water  Company,  furnishing  water 
from  springs  to  about  eight  families.  There  is  one  public  sewer  in  the 
borough  and  about  fifteen  private  sewers  from  individual  properties, 
one  of  them  serving  four  families,  beside  a  large  number  of  small 
drains  discharging  kitchen  waste  into  the  creek.  Privies  are  in 
general  use,  in  a  number  of  instances  on  the  banks  of  the  runs  or  the 
bank  of  the  creek. 

Worthville,  Jefferson  County,  is  a  borough  with  a  population  of 
1.50,  situated  on  Little  Sandy  Creek,  a  tributary  entering  Bed  Bank 
Creek  near  the  western  boundary  of  Jefferson  County.  It  is  sur- 
rounded by  a  rich  farming  country  containing  considerable  coal  and 
natural  gas,  although  these  latter  resources  are  undeveloped  in  the 
vicinity.  Water  for  domestic  use  is  derived  principally  from  wells, 
extending  to  water-bearing  gravel.  Privies  are  in  general  use,  there 
being  no  sewrers.  Tn  the  southwestern  portion  of  the  borough  a  num- 
ber of  privies  overhang  or  drain  to  an  abandoned  millrace  and  an  ad- 
joining swamp. 

Hawthorne,  Clarion  County,  (formerly  West  Millville),  is  a  bor- 
ough with  a  population  of  800  on  Bed  Bank  Creek  in  the  southeastern' 
coiner  of  the  county.  The  surrounding  region  is  productive  of  na- 
tural gas  and  there  are  three  large  coal  operations  near  by.    Within 

168 


the  borough  there  is  but  one  industry  of  importance,  the  Hawthorne 
Pottery  Company,  employing  lliirty-five  persons  in  the  manufacture 
of  stoneware.  The  inhabitants  derive  water  from  ptrivate  dug  wells 
and  a  few  drilled  and  driven  wells  and  springs.  There  are  no  public 
sewers  and  surface  privies  are  universally  used.  Some  of  these  privies 
and  a  number  of  pigpens" contribute  pollution  to  the  highways  or  the 
creek. 

New  Bethlehem,  Clarion  County,  population  about  2,000,  is  a  bor- 
ough situated  on  Red  Bank  Creek  about  twenty-one  miles  from  its 
mouth.  Its  industries  include  the  New  Bethlehem  Window  Glass 
Company,  employing  about  125  persons,  the  New  Bethlehem  Planing 
Mill  Company,  with  thirty  employees,  the  C.  E.  Andrews  Sons 
planing  mill  with  about  forty  employees,  the  New  Bethlehem  Brewing 
Company,  brick  works,  tile  and  hollow  brick  works,  and  a  grist  mill, 
with  a  water  piower  installation  on  Red  Bank  Creek  developing  150 
H.  P.  Water  is  supplied  to  the  public  by  the  Citizens  Water  Com- 
pany of  New  Bethlehem,  whose  supply  is  pumped  from  Red  Bank 
Creek  and  subjected  to  mechanical  filtration  before  reaching  the  con- 
sumers, of  whom  there  are  about  1,400.  The  daily  consumption  is 
80,000  gallons,  of  which  about  one-half  is  used  for  industrial  pur- 
poses. The  remaining  population  depends  upon  drilled  and  dug  wells. 
The  borough  has  a  combined  system  of  public  sewers  with  an  outlet 
into  the  -creek  at  the  down -stream  end  of  the  town  below  the  mill 
dam,  and  above  the  dam  there  are  twelve  private  drains  discharging 
into  the  creek  or  Leisure  Run,  a  small  tributary.  Privies  are  in  use 
and  about  a  dozen  cesspools.  There  is  no  serious  pollution  from  in- 
dustrial wastes  in  the  borough. 

South  Bethlehem,  Armstrong  County,  population  estimated  at 
460,  is  a  borough  situated  on  Red  Bank  Creek  opposite  and  just 
below  New  Bethlehem,  Clarion  County.  It  is  the  last  settlement 
on  Red  Bank  Creek  which  below  this  point  follows  a  sinuous  course 
between  high  banks  which  become  more  precipitous  and  form  a  nar- 
row gorge  as  the  Allegheny  River  is  approached.  The  borough  is 
largely  residential,  forming  practically  a  suburb  of  New  Bethlehem, 
and  its  inhabitants  are  principally  interested  in  the  coal  operations 
of  the  Fairmount  Coal  Company  near  by.  There  are  only  three  in- 
dustries in  the  borough,  a  grist  mill,  an  electric  lighting  plant,  and 
a  woolen  mill,  but  the  last  named  plant  has  not  been  in  operation 
recently.  Water  for  public  use  is  derived  principally  from  wells 
but  possibly  100  persons  are  supplied  by  the  Citizens  Water  Company 
of  New  Bethlehem  with  filtered  water  derived  from  Red  Bank  Creek. 
While  there  is  no  public  sewer  system  in  the  borough,  there  are  sev- 
eral private  sewers,  all  of  which  discharge  into  the  tail-race  from 
the  mills.  There  are  three  of  these  sewers  serving  in  all  eleven  prop- 
erties.    The  rest  of  the  sewage  of  the  borough  is  disposed  of  either 


169 


to  the  surface  of  the  ground  or  into  cesspools,  privies  or  dug  wells. 
There  are  eighty  privies  in  the  borough,  constructed  for  the  most 
part  over  vaults  dug  to  a  depth  of  twenty  feet  where  a  gravel  stratum 
is  reached.  This  gravel,  however,  appiears  to  be  easily  clogged  and 
great  trouble  is  experienced  from  the  tilling  up  and  overflow  of  these 
wells.  Slop  and  wash  water  is  largely  disposed  of  through  terra  cotta 
drains  from  the  houses  into  the  gutters  along  the  streets,  finally 
peaching  the  creek.  The  borough  officials  have  under  consideration 
the  construction  of  a  system  of  sewerage  for  the  entire  municipal 
territory. 

A  decree  relative  to  sewerage  was  issued  by  the  Commissioner  of 
Health  to  South  Bethlehem  in  March,  1909.  It  contained  the  fol- 
lowing discussion: 

"In  making  application  for  a  permit  to  discharge  sewage  into  the  waters  of  the 
State  untreated,  the  borough  officials  have  dwelt  strongly  on  the  fact  that  this 
territory  is  sparsely  populated  and  that  there  arc  no  communities  below  South 
Bethlehem  borough  which  take  their  water  supply  from  this  source  until  the 
borough  of  Kittanning  is  reached.  This  borough  is  forty-four  miles  below  South 
Bethlehem  on  the  Allegheny  River.  The  borough  authorities  further  state  that 
above  New  Bethlehem  there  are  seventeen  producing  coal  mines  and  twenty- 
eight  abandoned  coal  mines  discharging  sulphur  water  into  Red  Bank  Creek  and 
that  the  existence  of  these  acids  in  the  water  will  completly  sterilize  the  sewage 
before  it  reaches  the  intake  of  any  water  supply. 

"The  existence  of  acids  from  mine  water  in  Red  Bank  Creek  may  be  sufficiently 
strong  during  low  stages  of  flow  or  even  during  normal  stages  of  flow  to  sterilize 
the  pathogenic  bacteria  discharged  by  sewerage  systems,  but  there  are  many 
periods  during  the  year  when  the  flow  is  sufficiently  great  to  so  dilute  the  amount  of 
mine  drainage  that  the  effect  of  these  acids  would  be  negligible.  Furthermore,  the 
extent  of  the  menace  in  Red  Bank  Creek  is  secondary  to  the  menace  to  public  health 
in  the  Allegheny  Valley.  The  interests  of  the  public  health  demand  that  these  upland 
Waters  should  be  preserved  in  their  purity.  The  question  of  their  use  is  not  one  of 
local  nuisance  as  often  popularly  and  selfishly  thought  to  be  the  case.  South  Bethle- 
hem borough  cannot  expect  a  permanent  right  to  discharge  its  sewage  into  Red  Bank 
Creek  and  in  anticipation  of  the  purification  of  the  sewage,  the  borough  should  plan 
for  an  intercepting  sewer  and  a  disposal  works  location. 

"The  boroughs  of  Reynoldsville  and  West  Reynoldsville  have  made  application 
to  the  State  Department  of  Health  for  the  approval  of  sewerage  systems  and  a 
permit  to  discharge  sewage  into  the  head  waters  of  Red  Bank  Creek  was  only 
issued  under  the  condition  that  the  boroughs  should  prepare  a  comprehensive  plan 
for  a  sanitary  sewerage  system  and  sewage  disposal  works  for  the  collection  of 
the  sewage  and  its  treatment  and  that  these  plans  should  be  submitted  to  the 
Commissioner  of  Health  for  approval  on  or  before  May  first,  one  thousand  nine 
hundred  and  nine.  Furthermore,  it  was  stated  that  the  permit  should  ceasn  on 
the  first  day  of  May,  one  thousand  nin«  hundred  and  eleven,  but  that  the  Com- 
missioner of  Health  might  extend  the  time  in  which  sewage  should  continue  to 
discharge  into  the  waters  of  the  State  after  that  date,  provided  the  conditions 
of  the  permit  were  complied  with.  Those  municipalities  are  located  as  far  above 
South  Bethlehem  as  that  borough  is  above  Kittanning  and  while  the  water  works 
of  the  borough  of  South  Bethlehem  is  supplied  with  a  filtration  plant,  yet  there 
is  always  a  great  danger  of  pollution  when  the  source  of  supply  is  open  to  con- 
tamination . 

"Undoubtedly  the  existing  unsanitary  conditions  in  South  Bethlehem  should  be 
remedied.  The  fact  that  many  of  the  veils  used  for  water  sunply  are  opon  to 
contamination  should  furnish  a  strong  incentive  for  the  borough  to  immediately 
install  a  sewerage  system  which  will  allow  a  more  abundant  use  of  water  and  con- 
sequently the  introduction  of  the  city  water  supply  into  more  general  use.  While 
several  of  the  houses  in  the  boiougb  are  at  present  cquippon"  with  house  sewers 
discharging  into  the  canal,  yet  these  people  who  are  operating  private  sewers 
polluting  the  waters  of  the  State,  ai'e  violating  the  law  and  are  open  to  :i  notice 
of  abatement  of  the  pollution.  It  is.  therefore,  extremely  important  for  them 
to  obtain  a  sewerage  svstem  approved  by  the  State  as  otherwise  they  will  be 
compelled   to  independently  install  some  effective  means  for  removing  the  pollution. 

"The  plans  for  the  sewrs  should  be  modified  so  as  to  eliminate  nil  storm  and 
roof  water  from  the  system  and  to  carry  all  sewage  to  one  common  point  for 
disposal.  The  plans  provide  for  taking  care  of  the  storm  water  at  several  points 
in  the  eastern  district  which  will  inerenso  the  flow  of  sewage  many  times  during  the 

170 


wet  season  and  necessarily  make  the  cost  of  disposal  excessive.  In  eliminating 
the  storm  water  from  the  sewers  the  sizes  can  be  made  materially  smaller  which 
will  reduce  the  cost  of  installation.  An  eight  inch  sewer  will  be  sufficiently  large 
for  the  main  sewers  in  the  two  districts  and  a  ten  inch  intercepter  will  more 
than  take  care  of  the  maximum  How  of  sewage. 

"The  borough  officials  in  their  application  have  slated  that  the  construction  of  an 
intercepting  sewer  will  be  expensive  on  account  of  the  depth  of  cut.  at.  the  ridge 
and  the  difficulty  in  obtaining  a  right  of  way  along  the  canal  near  the  f,„,\.  ,,f  the 
ridge.  On  account  of  the  pollution  existing  at  the  mills  and  the  necessity  for  its 
abatement,  the  owners  should  be  willing  to  co-operate  with  the  borough  in  the 
installation  of  a  sewerage  system  and  there  should  be  no  trouble  in  obtaining  a  right 
of  way  through  this  territory  as  it  will  allow  the  mills  facilities  for  discharging 
their  sewage  into  the  system.  An  intercepting  sewer  can  be  constructed  under  the 
present  plans  with  very  few  modifications.  The  sewer  can  extend  from  a  point 
near  the  foot  of  the  main  outfall  sewer  in  the  eastern  district  along  the  south 
bank  of  the  canal  to  the  outfall  in  the  western  district.  The  territory  in  the 
eastern  district  is  sufficiently  high  to  allow  enough  drop  for  the  construction 
of  this  sewer.  Temporarily,  however,  the  eastern  district  can  be  discharged 
through  the  existing  storm  drain  into  Red  Bank  Creek  as  originally  planned  so 
that  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  construct  the  outfall  sewer  until  the  disposal 
plant  is  constructed. 

"The  State  authorities  do  not  have  information  as  to  the  availability  of  a  site 
for  a  disposal  works  below  the  borough  to  which  the  sewage  could  be  conducted 
by  gravity.  On  account  of  the  rapid  flow  in  the  creek  and  the  steepness  of  the 
slope  at  points  in  front  of  and  above  the  borough  it  is  not  improbable  that  an 
available  site  could  be  secured  where  the  plant  could  also  be  operated  by  gravity. 
It  will  be  necessary  for  the  borough  officials  to  make  an  investigation  of  this  matter, 
however,  before  the  location  and  the  type  of  plant  can  be  selected.  In  preparing 
plans  for  the  disposal,  it  would  be  advisable  for  the  borough  authorities  to  unite 
with  the  authorities  of  New  Bethlehem  borough  in  taking  care  of  the  sewage  at 
a  common  plant.  New  Bethlehem  borough,  as  previously  stated,  at  present  dis- 
charges its  sewage  into  Red  Bank  Creek  at  a  point  a  few  hundred  feet  below  the 
water  works  intake  and  as  this  plant  is  located  near  the  eastern  boundary  of 
South  Bethlehem  borough  it  is  probable  that  the  sewage  could  be  carried  across 
the  creek  at  this  point  and  conducted  by  gravity  through  the  proposed  intercepting 
sewer  for  South  Bethlehem  borough.  In  case  this  is  decided  upon  in  the  plans, 
it  will  be  necessary  for  South  Bethlehem  to  construct  an  intercepter  large  enough 
for  the  combined  sewage  of  the  two  boroughs.  While  the  other  settlements  located 
adjacent  to  South  Bethlehem  borough  at  present  have  no  sewerage  systems,  yet 
provision  could  be  made  for  the  ultimate  installation  and  drainage  of  sewage  from 
these  sections  into  the  same  system.  A  plan  of  co-operation  is  advisable  not  only 
in  maintaining  a  higher  efficiency  in  the  operation  of  the  plant,  but  also  in  materially 
reducing  the  initial  cost  of  construction  and  the  annual  charges  for  operation  and 
maintenance." 

(c)  Typhoid  Fever.  In  Table  XL  are  given  the  typhoid  fever  cases 
reported  to  the  State  Department  of  Health  by  the  local  authorities 
for  the  district  for  the  years  1906  to  1912,  inclusive: 

TABLE  XL. 

Typhoid  Fever  Cases  Reported  for  the  Section  of  the  Allegheny  Basin  from  Red 
Bank  Creek  to  Mahoning  Creek,   1906—1912,   inclusive. 


New    Bethlehem,     .. 
West    Bethlehem,    .. 

DuBois,     

Brookville,    

Reynoldsville,     

West    Reynoldsville, 

Summerville,      

Worthville 

Falls   Creek,    

Corsica 


1906. 

1907. 

190S. 

190©. 

1910. 

1911. 

0 

0 

3 

21 

10 

10 

0 

0 

2 

0 

0 

0 

0 

25 

32 

19 

1 

35 

10 

15 

16 

'  5 

58 

11 

2 

1 

1 

2 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

e 

2 

1 

2 

0 

O 

2 

0 

0 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0  1 

0 

10 

0 

0 

s 

0  | 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

171 


Section    IS. — Mahoning   Creek    to   Crooked   Creek. 

(a)  Along  Allegheny  River.  From  Mahoning  Creek  the  river  flows 
in  a  general  southerly  direction  through  the  central  part  of  Arm- 
strong County  lor  a  distance  of  about  eleven  miles  to  Kittanning. 
The  hills  on  both  sides  of  the  river  recede  from  the  banks  of  the 
stream  and  bottom  lands  again  make  their  appearance.  On  the  west 
side  of  the  river  the  land  is  chiefly  devoted  to  farming  while  on  the 
east  are  many  coal  mines.  The  total  population  for  this  part  of  the 
Allegheny  River  basin  is  11,100  divided  as  follows:  urban  3700,  rural 
74 60.  Yatesboro,  the  largest  town  in  this  portion  of  the  watershed,  has 
2800  inhabitants.  From  Kittanning  the  Allegheny  river  flows  in  a 
southerly  direction  for  a  distance  of  five  miles  where  it  is  joined  by 
Crooked  Creek.  On  the  east  bank  the  sloping  hills  are  cultivated 
while  on  the  west  most  of  the  farms  are  on  the  uplands.  Dredging 
operations  to  improve  the  channel  for  navigation  are  in  progress 
below  Kittanning.  The  total  population  of  this  section  is  13,810 
divided  as  follows:  urban  11,280,  rural  2530.  Ford  City,  population 
4000,  Kittanning,  population  4000,  and  Wickboro,  population  2000,  are 
the  largest  towns.  In  this  section  above  Kittanning  coal  mining  is 
the  dominant  industry  although  considerable  attention  is  being  paid 
to  agricultural  pursuits. 

The  Allegheny  Division  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  follows  the 
east  bank  of  the  river  throughout  this  division  and  a  branch  of  the 
Buffalo,  Rochester  and  Pittsburgh  traverses  it  from  east  to  west  a 
total  distance  of  about  thirty-two  miles  of  railroad.  Yatesboro  and 
Rural  Valley  have  piublic  water  supplies  drawn  from  driven  wells. 

A  regular  gauging  station  was  established  at  Kittanning  in  1904 
by  the  United  States  Geological  Survey  and  later  has  been  main- 
tained by  the  Pennsylvania  Water  Supply  Commission.  During  the 
period  from  August,  1904,  to  December,  1908,  the  mean  discharge 
was  10,801  cubic  feet  a  second,  the  maximum  175,500,  the  minimum 
844  equivalent  to  a  discharge  of  0.10  in  second  feet  to  the  square 
mile  from  the  tributary  area  above  (8,744  square  miles). 

It  is  estimated  that  there  is  a  sewage  polluting  population"  on 
this  portion  of  the  watershed  above  Kittanning  of  2,170  persons. 
Aside  from  this  domestic  sewage,  the  principal  pollution  comes  from 
the  coal  mines.  There  are  nineteen  mines,  fifteen  of  which  have  natu- 
ral drainage,  amounting  to  1,025  gallons  a  minute,  while  four  have 
pumps  delivering  a  total  of  1,850  gallons  a  minute. 


172 


Rural  Valley,  Armstrong  County,  is  a  borough  with  a  population 
of  900,  lying  about  thirteen  miles  east  from  the  river  and  Kittanning 
near  the  head  waters  of  Cowanshannock  Creek.  The  ground  has  a 
gradual  slope  from  the  built-up  piortion  toward  the  creek,  about  one- 
quarter  of  a  mile  distant,  giving  good  natural  drainage.  Originally 
a  farming  community,  the  town  is  now  industrially  dependent 
mainly  upon  extensive  coal  operations  in  the  vicinity.  The  water 
supply  is  owned  by  the  borough  consisting  of  a  drilled  well  over  300 
feet  deep,  located  in  the  valley,  from  which  water  is  pumped  to  a 
tank,  and  thence  distributed  by  gravity  to  the  consumers  through  a 
six-inch  and  four-inch  main.  The  consumption  is  60,000  gallons  a 
day.  Only  three  or  four  houses  have  a  closet  and  bath.  The  borough 
has  no  sewer  system,  cesspools  receiving  the  closet  and  bath  wastes 
and  privies  being  in  general  use.  Kitchen  wastes,  some  barns  and 
pig  pens  and  in  many  cases  privies,  drain  into  the  streets  and  alleys 
and  small  runs,  resulting  in  an  unsanitary  condition.  The  borough 
contemplates  the  construction  of  sewerage  facilities  for  a  portion  of 
the  towTn. 

Yatesboro,  Armstrong  County,  is  an  unincorporated  village  in 
Cowanshannock  township  about  twelve  miles  east  of  Kittanning  and 
a  mile  west  of  Rural  Valley  on  Cowanshannock  Creek.  The  popula- 
tion of  about  2,800  persons  is  entirely  dependent  upon  the  coal  opera- 
tions of  the  Cowanshannock  Coal  and  Coke  Company  which  owns 
practically  all  of  the  houses.  Water  is  obtained  from  three  drilled 
wells  from  which  it  is  pumped  to  tanks  and  distributed  throughout 
the  town.  Fifty  house  taps  and  a  hundred  hydrants  supply  water 
for  domestic  uses.  A  few  residences  of  officials  have  closets  and  bath. 
The  few  private  sewers  in  the  town  come  mainly  from  these  houses. 
Otherwise  there  are  no  sewers  and  the  inhabitants  generally  use 
privies.  Kitchen  wastes  are  usually  discharged  on  the  ground.  For 
boiler  purposes  the  coal  company  derives  a  supply  from  a  reservoir 
on  Cowanshannock  Creek  and  six  drilled  wells. 

In  the  section  including  Kittanning  and  below  it,  the  industries 
are  clay  products,  glass,  iron  and  steel  manufacturing  plants  being 
located  at  Kittanning,  Manorville  and  Ford  City.  There  are  eleven 
small  coal  mines,  ten  having  natural  drainage  and  delivering  211  gal- 
lons a  minute  and  one  pumped  mine  delivering  SO  gallons  a  minute. 

The  Allegheny  division  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  follows  the 
east  bank  of  the  river,  being  the  only  railroad  here. 

Applewold,  Wickboro,  and  Kittanning  are  supplied  with  water 
by  private  corporations,  West  Kittanning  and  Manorville  by  pri- 
vate wells  and  springs,  and  Ford  City  has  a  municipal  plant  system 
pumping  water  from  a  "filter"  crib  in  the  river  with  an  emergency 
supply  of  raw  river  water.  Private  industrial  supplies  are  derived 
from  the  river  by  the  Kittanning  Plate  Glass  Company  ac  Wick 

12  173 


boro,  ihe  Kittanning  Iron  and  Sled  Company  at  Kittanning,  and  the 
Pittsburgh  Plate  class  Company  at  Ford  City. 

Domestic  sewage  of  a  population  estimated  at  11,360  is  discharged 
into  the  river  in  this  division.  While  the  various  industries  dis- 
charge manufactural  wastes  of  considerable  volume,  they  appear  not 
to  be  of  a  seriously  polluting  nature,  and  probably  have  little  effect 
on  the  chemical  and  bacteriological  character  of  the  "water.  Excep- 
tion should  be  made  of  the  coal  mines  mentioned  above. 

In  this  table  are  given  a  sanitary  chemical  analysis  of  the  Alle- 
gheny River  water  at  Kittanniug,  made  by  the  State  Department  of 
llealili.  and  the  mineral  analyses  of  the  river. 

TABLE   XLI. 

Sanitary    Chemical    Analysis    of    Allegheny    River    at    Kittanuing. 

Tarts   per   Million. 


Determination. 


Feb.  8,  1907. 


Free    Ammonia 0.122 

Albuminoid    Ammonia I  0.045 

Nitrites None. 

N  i  t ;'::  t  <-s 2. BO 

Chlorine : 9.0 

Kin uii i'ii    Oxygen,    1.3 

Total     Solids 112.0 

Loss    on    Ignition,  10.0 


Mineral   Analyses   of  Allegheny    River   at    Kittanning. 


Determination. 


Volatile  and   Organic 

Silica 

Iron   and    Aluminium    Oxide, 

Calcium  Oxide 

Magnesium  oxide,    

i    Ox'ide 

Sulphuric    Anhydride 

Carbonic    Anhydride     (Fixed), 
nnrbonic    Anhydride    (Free), 

Chlorine 

Nitric    Anhydride 

Calcium    Carbonate 

Calcium     Sulphate 

Magnesium  

Magnesium   Chloride 

Sodium   Chloride 

Alkalinity 

Total    Solids 

i  a i  \   matter 

Free  Carbonic    Vcid 

Tncrusting    Solids 

N'on  Ei  Solids 


May,  1006. 


6.0 
2.6 
.8 
19.2 
7.1 
6.3 
13.0 
13.2 

1D.0 

1S.0 
22.1 

9.7 
6.3 
11.8 
29.9 
77.3 
9.4 
1.8 
6&.6 
11. S 


Applewold  for  Applewood),  Armstrong  County,  is  a  borough  with 
a  population  of  2*0,  located  on  the  west  side  of  the  Allegheny  River 
opposite  Kittanning.  Ti  is  residential  in  character  having  no  in- 
dustries.    Water  is  supplied  by  gravity  from  two  springs,  by  the 


174 


Franklin  Water  Company  to  virtually  the  entire  population.  Water 
is  distributed  from  five  tanks  with  a  combined  capacity  of  1  t,000  gal- 
lons. The  borough  has  excellent,  sewerage  facilities,  having  a  sepa- 
rate sanitary  system  and  storm  sewers  each  with  two  outlets  to  the 
river.  In  addition  to  these,  there  are  some  thirteen  private  sewers 
discharging  from  individual  properties  into  the  river. 

West  Kittanning,  Armstrong  County,  is  a  residential  borough, 
population  400,  situated  on  the  bluff  opposite  Kittanning  and  im- 
mediately west  of  and  above  Applewold.  There  is  no  public  water 
system,  the  supply  being  mainly  from  individual  driven  wells.  Kitchen 
waste  is  generally  deposited  on  the  ground  and  in  some  cases- reaches 
the  street  gutters.  The  inhabitants  find  employment  in  the  mills 
of  Kittanning  across  the  river. 

Wickboro  Borough,  Armstrong  County,  population  2,000,  lies  on 
the  east  bank  of  the  river  adjoining  the  northern  portion  of  Kittan- 
ning, both  being  practically  one  community.  Its  industries  com- 
prise the  plant  of  the  Wickboro  Mirror  factory,  the  Pennsylvania 
China  Company,  the  Kittanning  Plate  Glass  Company,  and  the  Kit- 
tanning  Brick  and  Fire  Clay  Company.  The  Kittanning  Plate  Glass 
Company  has  350  employees  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  plate 
glass.  The  Pennsylvania  China  Company  employes  225  persons,  the 
Kittanning  Brick  and  Fire  Clay  Company  employ  about  150  persons 
and  the  Wickboro  Mirror  Works  has  about  18  employes.  The  Arm- 
strong Water  Company,  a  private  corporation,  supplies  the  public 
with  water  for  domestic  piurposes.  The  supply  is  derived  partly  from 
springs  and  partly  from  the  Allegheny  River,  the  latter  water  being 
subjected  to  filtration.  The  raw  water  intake  and  pumping  station 
formerly  used  are  now  retained  for  emergency  purposes.  The  bor- 
ough has  a  combined  sewer  system  comprising  about  three  miles  of 
sewers  with  two  twenty-four-inch  outlets  into  the  river,  in  addition 
to  which  there  are  about  1,700  feet  of  sewers  connected  to  and  dis- 
charging into  the  Kittanning  borough  sewers.  On  May  4th,  1908, 
the  Commissioner  of  Health  issued  a  permit  for  certain  sewer  ex- 
tensions, allowing  the  discharge  of  sewage  into  the  waters  of  the 
State.  The  large  industrial  plants  discharge  more  or  less  of  manu- 
faetural  wastes  into  the  river.  The  Kittanning  Plate  Glass  Company 
uses  daily  in  its  manufacturing  processes  about  one  million  gallons 
of  water  pumped  from  the  river,  which  on  its  return  carries  a  large 
quantity  of  waste  matter.  The  chief  items  of  waste  come  from  the 
use  of  about  eighty  cubic  yards  of  river  sand  daily,  ISO  pounds  of 
emery  flour,  about  100  pounds  of  rouge  (from  copperas),  and  a  small 
amount  of  acid  used  in  cleaning  the  glass.  The  resultant  waste  is 
dirty  white  in  color  and  contains  a  large  amount  of  solids.  What 
wastes  there  may  be  from  the  other  plants  are  also  discharged  into 
the  river..  A  serious  outbreak  of  gastrointestinal  disorders  followed 
by  some  fifty  cases  of  typhoid  fever  which  occurred  in  Wickboro 

175 


and  Kittanning  in  the  winter  of  1906  and  L907  was  thoroughly  in- 
vestigated by  the  Department  and  a  reporl  thereon  will  be  found 
on  page  894  of  the  Second  Annual  Report  of  the  Commissioner  of 
Health.  The  outbreak  was  occasioned  by  a  sudden,  excessive  sewage 
pollution  of  the  raw  river  water  supply  coupled  with  inefficient 
operation  of  the  filters.  The  Department  immediately  look  the  neces- 
sary steps  to  prevent  a  recurrence  of  the  trouble. 

Kittanning,  the  county  seal  of  Armstrong  County,  is  an  incor- 
porated borough,  5,000  population,  situated  on  the  east  bank  of  the 
Allegheny  River  forty-five  miles  from  its  mouth.  It  is  essentially  an 
industrial  town.  Among  the  principal  industrial  plants  are  the  fur- 
nace and  rolling  mill  of  the  Kittanning  Iron  and  Steel  Company 
with  350  employees  producing  about  100,000  tons  annually  of  pig 
metal  and  muck  bar,  the  Daugherty  Brothers  Brick  Company,  the 
Hay  &  Gallagher  Foundry,  the  Elk  and  the  Kittanning  Breweries, 
the  Pittsburgh  Writing  Machine  Company,  the  Heilman  Brothers 
Lumber  Company,  and  the  Claypoole  Lumber  Company.  The  Arm- 
strong Water  Company  supplies  the  public  in  Kittanning  as  well  as 
Wickboro  the  adjoining  borough  on  the  north.  The  supply  for  Kit- 
tanning is  derived  from  the  Allegheny  River  through  a  settling  basin 
and  filters  before  reaching  the  consumers.  On  January  13th,  1906, 
the  Commissioner  of  Health  issued  a  permit  to  the  Citizens  Water 
Company  of  Kittanning,  now  owned  by  the  Armstrong  Water  Com- 
pany, for  the  use  of  certain  springs  which  furnish  part  of  the  present 
supply.  A  large  number  of  private  wells  have  been  drilled  to  supply 
individuals  and  groups  of  houses.  This  well  water  is  said  to  be  of 
excellent  quality  and  very  abundant.  The  Kittanning  Iron  and  Steel 
Company  derives  a  private  supply  for  industrial  purposes  from  the 
river.  The  borough  appears  to  have  extensive  sewerage  facilities 
connecting  most  of  the  properties  and  there  are  few  privies  in  use. 
The  sewers  are  mostty  on  the  combined  plan  with  seven  outlets  into 
the  river  ranging  in  size  from  sixteen  to  forty-two  inches.  Three  of 
the  largesl  of  these,  twenty-four,  thirty  and  forty-two  inches  respec- 
tively, discharge  into  the  river  above  the  water  works  intake.  On 
October  5th,  1908,  a  permit  was  granted  by  the  Commissioner  of 
Health  for  the  construction  of  certain  sewer  extensions.  In  this 
permit  of  1908  the  following  discussion  by  the  Commissioner  of 
Health  may  be  found  : 

"The  attention  of  the  local  authorities  is  hereby  called  to  the  fact  that  the 
epidemic  of  typhoid  fever  and  stomach  disorders  of  the  winter  of  nineteen  hundred 
and  six  and  seven  has  been  attributed  to  the  sewage  pollution  of  the  Allegheny  River 
water,  and  that  while  the  State  Department  of  Health  has  done  what  it  could  to 
bring  about  the  proper  filtration  of  the  public  water  supply  of  Kittanning  and 
Wickboro  boroughs,  and  will  continue  to  exercise  supervision  thereover,  neverthe- 
less, it  is  all  important  that  the  discharge  of  sewage  into  the  river  above  the  water 
works  intake  should  be  discontinued  and  the  borough  officials  should  understand 
that  it  is  the  purpose  of  the  State  to  require  Wickboro  Borough  and  Kittanning 
Borough  to  make  changes  in  their  sewer  outlets  at  the  earliest  practicable  moment 
and  to  this  end  said  local  authorities  are  urged  to  prepare  the  plans  called  for 
during  the  current  season  as  early  as  possible." 

170 


"The  Depaitmentis  informed  that  Kittanning  has  about  reached  the  constitutional 
limit  of  indebtedness  and  that  it  is  not  in  a  position  to  undertake  at  this  tim 
erection  of  sewage  purification  works  or  the  separation  of  sewage  from  storm   water 
in   the  existing   sewers.     Accepting   this  as   a   fact,    it  does   not   appe;  true 

that  the  borough  cannot  afford  to  devise  plans  for  an  improved  sewerage  system  and 
for  the  ultimate  treatment  of  the  sewage.     If  this  were  done  and  the  plan 
then   the   local   authorities   could   lay   down    lateral   sewers    Erom    timi     to    turn     a 
improvements  were  demanded,  and  do  this  in  a  way  that  would  insure  no  blur 
or  the  necessity  of  reconstruction  of  sewers  in  the  future. 

"The  surcharging  of  the  existing  sewers  during  heavy  rainfalls,  indicates  the 
desirability  of  further  improvements  in  surface  drainage.  It  is  not  possible  to 
purify  both  sewage  and  storm  water,  and  when  sewage  disposal  works  shall 
have  been  built  at  Kittanning,  the  household  drainage  only  can  be  treated  becausi 
of  the  prohibitive  cost  to  treat  mingled  sewage  and  storm  water.  This  is  another 
reason  why  economy  and  efficiency  dictate  that  comprehensive  plans  should  be 
devised  at  the  earliest  possible  moment  and  adopted.  Since  Kittanning  and  Wick- 
boro  are  practically  one  community  and  their  interests  are  one  with  respect  to 
die  public  water  supply,  the  economies  of  the  situation  would  dictate  that  the  two 
towns  join  in  the  preparation  of  plans  for  improved  sewerage  and  sewage  disposal 
and  this  idea  is  heartily  commended  to  the  consideration  of  the  local  authorities. 

"There  would  seem  to  be  no  objection  to  granting  the  right  to  the  borough  to 
build  the  Clay  Alley  combined  sewer  since  it  is  always  to  be  a  storm  drain,  pro- 
vided the  borough  exclude  sewage  from  it,  or  if  the  sewage  be  admitted,  it  shal] 
be  under  terms  whereby  the  sewage  may  be  excluded  whenever  this  should  appear 
desirable.  There  seems  to  be  no  reason  also  why  the  interests  of  the  public  health 
will  not  be  subserved  by  granting  the  borough  permission  to  fill  in  the  gap  on  the  line 
of  the  proposed  thirty-inch  sewer  between  McKean  Street  and  the  railroad.  How- 
ever, the  necessity  for  the  fifteen  inch  extension  in  Grant  Avenue  as  a  storm  sewer 
is  not  apparent.  This  sewer  should  be  laid  as  a  sanitary  sewer  and  if  storm  water 
be  admitted  it  should  be  only  temporarily  and  under  conditions  whereby  such  waters 
shall  be  excluded  at  any  time  the  Commissioner  of  Health  may  determine  it  to  be 
necessary." 

Industrial  wastes  from  the  numerous  manufacturing  establish- 
ments are  quite  extensive. 

Manorville,  Armstrong  County,  is  a  borough  of  600  inhabitants 
situated  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Allegheny  River  three  miles  below 
Kittanning  and  about  one  mile  above  Ford  City.  A  small  planing 
mill  and  a  few  stores  are  the  only  business  enterprises,  the  popula- 
tion being  largely  employed  in  Kittanning  and  Ford  City.  There  is 
no  public  water  supply,  water  for  domestic  purposes  being  derived 
partly  from  dug  wells  and  partly  from  individual  springs  on  the 
mountain  side.  In  one  instance  fourteen  families  are  supplied  from 
springs  which  flow  from  an  abandoned  coal  mine  above  the  town.  The 
Manorville  Water  Company,  incorporated  about  eight  years  ago  to 
supply  the  public  with  water  derived  from  the  Armstrong  Water 
Company  at  Kittanning,  has  never  been  operative.  Public  and  pri- 
vate sewers  serve  practically  the  entire  population.  There  are  eight 
public  outlets  to  the  river  ranging  in  size  from  ten  to  twenty-four 
inches,  and  having  street  inlets  for  surface  water.  A  number  of  pri- 
vate sewers  discharge  directly  into  the  river. 

Ford  City,  Armstrong  County,  is  a  borough  with  about  4,000  popu- 
lation, situated  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Allegheny  River  just  below 
Kittanning  and  Manorville  and  about  forty-two  miles  from  the  mouth 
of  the  river.  Tn  1890  its  population  was  1,225  and  in  1900,  2,870.  It 
is  an  industrial  town  with  a  number  of  large  establishments  includ- 
ing two  plants  of  the  Pittsburgh  Plate  Glass  Company  with  about 
2,500  employees,  the  Ford  City  China  Company  employing  about  300, 
the  Cook  Pottery  Works,  and  the  Fisher  Foundry  and  Machine  Com- 


177 


pany.  The  borough  lias  a  tnunicipia]  water  system  deriving  its  sup- 
ply from  the  Allegheny  River.  Recently  a  "filter"  crib  was  built 
which  strains  the  water  through  about  three  feel  or  more  of  gravel- 
Previously  two  wells  on  the  river  bank  of  insufficient  capacity  were 
in  service.  The  borough  has  a  million  gallon  reservoir  but  water 
is  pumped  direct  from  the  mains  and  the  Pittsburgh  Plate  Glass 
Company  has  been  given  the  right  to  use  the  reservoir  in  connection 
With  iis  private  industrial  supply,  which  is  raw  river  water.  Valved 
connections  permit  the  entrance  of  this  water  to  the  borough  mains 
in  cases  of  emergency.  Public  water  is  supplied  very  generally  and 
there  are  few  wells  in  use.  The  Farmers  Building  has  a  private  sup- 
ply from  an  air  lift  well.  The  Pittsburgh  Plate  Class  Company  have 
a  private  industrial  supply  from  the  river  using  12,000,000  gallons 
daily  at  its  No.  I  plant  and  2,500,000  gallons  at  its  No.  5  plant.  The 
town  is  divided  into  three  sewer  districts  the  upper  two  of  which 
have  combined,  systems  with  48  inch  and  54  inch  outlets  respectively 
and  serving  about  .'5,500  persons,  practically  all  of  the  population  of 
these  districts.  A  permit  was  issued  by  the  Commissioner  of  Health 
on  June  10th,  1907,  for  the  construction  of  a  separate  sanitary  sys- 
tem in  the  lower  district  serving  its  entire  population  of  about  500. 
This  permit  allowed  the  temporary  discharge  of  sewage  into  the  river 
until  such  time  as  other  municipalities  along  the  stream  should  be 
required  to  purify  their  .sewage.  The  Pittsburgh  Plate  Glass  Com- 
pany returns  to  the  river  upward  of  l.°>,000.000  gallons  daily  of  waste 
water  which,  from  the  nature  of  the  plant,  probably  carries  a  large 
amount  of  insoluble,  mineral  matter  in  suspension  and  but  little  of 
an  objectionable  chemical  or  pathogenic  character.  The  wastes  from 
the  other  plants  are  practically  of  little  importance. 

(h)  Mahoning  ('reel:  Drainage  Area.  Mahoning  Creek  rises  in  two 
branches,  Mahoning  Creek  proper  and  the  East  Branch  of  Mahoning 
Creek,  in  a  wilderness  region  of  Chestnut  Ridge  in  the  western  part 
of  Clearfield  County.  These  tw^o  branches  flow  in  a  general  south- 
westerly direction  until  they  meet  just  east  of  Big  Run  borough  in 
the  eastern  part  of  Jefferson  County.  From  here  Mahoning  Creek 
continues  this  southwesterly  direction  through  Jefferson  County  to 
Goodville  in  northwestern  Indiana  County  where  it  turns  to  the 
northwest  and  enters  Armstrong  County.  The  course  of  the  Creek 
from  here  to  its  continence  with  the  Allegheny  River  near  Mahoning 
City  is  extremely  circuitous.  Many  of  its  loops  are  several  miles  in 
length  and  the  general  trend  of  the  valley  is  either  west  or  north- 
west across  the  stratification.  At  the  eastern  line  of  Armstrong 
Comity  the  basin  is  ten  miles  wide,  narrowing  steadily  to  the  west- 
ward and  confined  to  the  hills  directly  bordering  the  stream.  The 
stream  bed  has  usually  a  thick  covering  of  gravel,  but  in  many 
places  rock  is  exposed. 


178 


Little  Mahoning  Creek  is  the  principal  tributary  of  Mahoning 
Creek.  This  stream  rises  in  ninny  rivulets  in  the  northeastern  piari 
of  Indiana  County  and  follows  a  general  northwesterly  direction 
to  its  confluence  with  the  main  stream  at  Goodville  in  the  extreme 
north Avestem  corner  of  the  county.  !(  flows  through  a  wide,  rugged 
valley  and  has  many  tributaries. 

The  fall  of  the  headwaters  of  Mahoning  Creek  is  rapid,  but  be- 
tween Independence  and  the  Allegheny  River,  the  total  fall  is  250 
feet.  This  slope  is  nearly  uniform,  being  slightly  less  rapid  as  the 
valley  of  the  Allegheny  River  is  approached.  At  the  .point  of 
confluence  with  the  Allegheny,  the  distance  to  the  mouth  of  the  Alle- 
gheny River  is  5G.2  miles  and  to  the  source  of  the  Allegheny  River 
about  252  miles.  Mahoning  Creek  has  been  declared  a  public  highway 
on  account  of  the  large  lumbering  business  which  was  formerly  car- 
ried on  in  its  basin.  A  gauging  taken  at  Mahoning  on  September 
25th,  1908,  shows  the  minimum  discharge  to  be  19.91  second  feet. 

Rainfall  records  at  Mahoning  covering  nine  complete  years  and  a 
total  of  twelve  years  give  the  following  annual  precipitation  in 
inches:  maximum  51.38,   minimum  2S.84,   mean  35.83. 

Mahoning  Creek  drains  an  area  of  397  square  miles  including  parts 
of  Clearfield,  Jefferson,  Indiana  and  Armstrong  Counties. 

The  surface  of  the  eastern  part  of  the  basin  is  smooth,  fertile,  well 
watered  and  capable  of  profitable  cultivation.  In  the  central  part  of 
the  basin,  the  creek  flows  in  a  deep,  wide  valley.  A  narrow  divide 
trending  east  and  west  separates  the  waters  of  Mahoning  Creek  from 
Little  Sandy  Creek.  South  from  the  creek  the  region  is  an  upland 
plateau,  the  top  of  which  is  300  feet  above  the  creek  level,  covered 
with  shales  and  but  little  broken  by  ravines.  The  section  north  of 
the  creek  is  quite  as  high  but  much  diversified  with  hills  and  vallevs. 
In  the  western  part  of  the  basin  the  immediate  valley  of  Mahoning 
Creek  narrows  and  is  not  entirely  symmetrical,  the  western  banks 
being  much  the  steeper. 

The  total  population  of  the  basin  is  44,770  divided  in  the  following- 
proportions:  urban  27,200,  rural  17,570.  The  rural  population  is  ap- 
proximately forty-four  to  the  square  mile. 

The  earliest  settlements  in  this  district  were  made  along  the  Ma- 
honing Creek  where  the  surface  is  well  adapted  to  cultivation.  From 
1830  to  1850  the  population  increased  rapidly;  after  1850  the  growth 
was  steady  but  less  rapid  on  account  of  the  destruction  of  the  forest 
and  partly  because  the  commercial  reverses  at  that  time  checked  the 
lumbering  business  and  stemmed  the  tide  of  immigration.  The  next 
decade  showed  a  much  smaller  increase  on  account  of  the  Civil  War, 
but  after  1870,  in  spite  of  the  depression  following  upon  1873,  there 
was  a  marked  improvement,  owing  to  the  construction  of  branch 


179 


railroads  which  opened  up  to  market  the  adjoining  coal  fields.  All 
oilier  industries  at  the  presenl  time  are  subordinate  to  coal  mining 
and  agriculture.  Lumbering  and  manufacturing  engage  the  atten- 
tion of  the  people  not  actively  interested  in  farming  and  mining 
operations. 

The  following  municipalities  are  the  only  towns  in  the  basin  hav- 
ing a  population  of  over  1,000:  Punxsutawney,  10,000;  Anita,  2,100; 
Florence.  2,000;  Sykesville,  1,900;  Eleanor,  1,500,  and  Adrian,  1.400. 

Punxsutawney  situated  on  Mahoning  Creek  is  one  of  the  oldest 
towns  in  this  district  having  been  laid  out  in  1818  or  1S10.  Its  prin- 
cipal industries  are  the  Punxsutawney  Foundry  and  Machine  Com- 
pany, the  Punxsutawney  Brewing  Company,  the  Punxsutawney  Iron 
Company,  the  Elk  Brewing  Company,  and  the  Star  Iron  Works. 

Anita,  Florence,  Adrian,  Rossiter,  Sykesville,  and  Eleanor  are  all 
mining  towns  and  their  financial  standing  is  dependent  upon  the 
mines  in  their  immediate  vicinity.  All  these  towns  send  mine 
drainage  into  Mahoning  ('reek  which  has  the  characteristic  color 
of  waters  receiving  such  drainage. 

Mahoning  Creek  and  its  tributary  streams  are  used  to  a  limited 
extent  for  water  power.  The  developments  are  small  and  are  as  fol- 
lows: Jefferson  County:  Big  Bun,  on  Mahoning  Creek;  Ringgold,  on 
Pine  Creek.  Indiana  County:  Smieksburg,  on  Little  Mahoning  Creek. 
Armstrong  County:  Putneyville,  on  Mahoning  Creek. 

The  industrial  activities  of  the  region  are  varied.  In  general  it 
may  be  said  that  the  territory  about  the  head  waters  is  devoted 
mainly  to  coal  and  timber,  but  further  down  agriculture  and  coal 
mining  are  of  the  most  importance,  while  natural  gas  is  quite  abund- 
ant. Big  Ban  and  Punxsutawney  are  the  principal  manufacturing 
towns  both  With  industrial  plants  of  various  kinds.  The  tannery 
of  the  William  Trvin  Company  at  Big  Bun  is,  for  the  purpose  of 
this  study,  the  most  important  plant  on  the  watershed  and  refer- 
ence will  be  made  to  it  further  on. 

The  upper  portion  of  the  basin  is  traversed  by  a  number  of  rail- 
roads following  the  stream  and  its  principal  branches,  but  from  the 
junction  of  Little  Mahoning  Creek  down  to  the  point  where  the 
main  stream  enters  the  Allegheny  Biver  the  watershed  is  virtually 
without  railroad  facilities.  The  aggregate  railroad  trackage  is  about 
a  hundred  miles. 

The  Lindsay -Water  Company  derives  water  from  Clover  Bun,  a 
tributary  of  Big  Bun.  and  supplies  it  to  the  public  in  Big  Bun 
through  the  Big  Bun  Water  Company,  serving  about  half  the  popu- 
lation, and  to  Punxsutawney  through  the  Punxsutawney  Water  Com- 
pany, also  serving  about  half  the  population  there.  This  supply  is 
subject  to  contamination  and  is  filtered  under  an  order  from  the 
Commissioner  of  Health.     The  Cascade  Coal  and  Coke  Company  has 

ISO 


d  private  system  supplying  a  portion  of  the  (own  of  Sykesville  with 
water  from  Bucks  Run.  The  Clearfield  Bituminous  Coal  Company 
lias  a  private  system  supplying  well  water  to  the  public  in  Rossiter, 
and  United  Coal  Company  at  Anita  and  the  Rochester  and  Pitts 
burgh  Coal  and  Iron  Company  at  Adrian  have  similar  systems.  At 
Sykesville  the  Cascade  Coal  and  Coke  Company  derive  an  industrial 
supply  from  Big  Bun;  at  Big  Run  the  Buffalo  and  Susquehanna  Com- 
pany use  Mahoning  Creek  water  for  industrial  purposes;  and  at 
Adrian  an  industrial  supply  is  drawn  from  Little  Elk  Bun  by  the 
Rochester  and  Pittsburgh  Coal  and  Iron  Company. 

In  the  following  Table  XLIL,  are  mineral  analyses  of  Clover  Run 
near  Punxsutawney: 

TABLE  XLII. 

Mineral  Analyses  of  Clover  Run  near  Punxsutawney. 
Parts  per  Million. 


Determination. 


Volatile  and   Organic,    

Silica,     

Iron   and   Al.    Oxides,    

Calcium     Oxide 

Magnesium   Oxide,    

Sodium    Oxide 

Sulphuric    Anhydride,     

Carbonic    Anhydride    (fixed), 
Carbonic    Anhydride     (free) , 

Chlorine 

Nitric    Anhydride,     

Calcium    Carbonate 

Calcium    Sulphate 

Calcium    Chloride, 

Calcium     Nitrate,     

Sodium     Chloride, 

Magnesium    Carbonate,     

Magnesium    Chloride,     

Magnesium    Sulphate,    

Alkalinity,     

Total     Solids,      

Suspended     matter,     

Free    Carbonic     Acid,     

Incrusting    Solids,     

Non-Incrusting    Solids 

Iron,    Alumina,    and    Silicia, 


1909. 

by  W.  B.  Scaife 

&  Sons  Co. 

1909. 
by  Am.  Water 
Softening  Co. 

6.0 

6.0 

Trace. 
12.0 

2.0 

1.0 

8.2 

1.9 

3.S 

S.6 

1.7 

4.3 

14.0 

5.8 
2.6 

S.9 
o.3 

1.9 

6.2 

4.8 

4.3 
45.3 
1.7 

IS. 3 
31.5 

3.S 
43.4 
1.9 

1.7 

25.3 

6.2 

4.8 

Mahoning  Creek  in  Armstrong  County,  has  been  stocked  with  pike 
perch  and  the  Little  Mahoning  in  Indiana  County,  has  been  stocked 
with  bass  and  yellow  perch.  Trout  have  been  placed  in  some  of  the 
suitable  streams. 

It  is  estimated  that  a  population  of  12,910  persons  contribute  di- 
rect or  indirect  sewage  pollution  to  the  waters  of  Mahoning  Creek,  al- 
though the  borough  of  Punxsutawney  is  the  only  town  with  a  mu- 
nicipal system.     Aside  from  mine  drainage,  which  is  very  extensive. 


181 


the  only  industrial  pollution  of  importance  is  contributed  by  the 
William  In  in  Tannery  a1  liiu  Run.  In  the  tanning  process  at  this 
plant  200  pounds  of  soda  and  L50  pounds  of  sulphuric  acid  are  used 
daily,  beside  lime  and  the  usual  tannic  acid.  The  wastes  going  to 
the  creefc  here  are  the  characteristic  wastes  from  tanneries  as  con- 
sidered-more  sjei  ifically  elsewhere  in  this  report. 

Trouiville.  Clearfield  County,  population  450,  is  a  borough  sit- 
uated near  the  western  boundary  of  the  county  on  high  ground  drain- 
ing north  and  south  to  the  East  Branch  of  the  Mahoning  Creek  and 
north  to  Stum;!  Creek,  one  of  its  tributaries.     Tt  is  a  rural  commun- 
i  ':  no  s,  in  a  rich  agricultural  district  with  abundant 

coal,  which  however,  is  not  largely  mined  in  the  vicinity.  Tt  has  no 
public  water  supply,  the  inhabitants  using  water  from  private  sources. 
en  drilled  wells,  fifty-five  dug  wells  and  two  springs. 
There  is  no  public  sewer  system  and  but  one  individual  private  sewer 
which  discharges  sewage  from  a  small  hotel  to  Reaver  Bun.  Each 
house  has  a  privy  and  the  soil  being-  porous  gravel,  there  is  little  evi- 
dence of  overflow  from  them.  Kitchen  waste  in  several  instances  is 
discharged  into  the  highway  but  generally  to  the  ground. 

Sykesville,  Jefferson  County,  population  1,000,  is  a  borough  sit- 
uated near  the  eastern  county  line  on  Stump  Creek,  it  is  about 
eight  miles  south  of  DuBois  and  seven  miles  southeast  of  Reynolds- 
ville,  with  both  of  which  boroughs  it  has  trolley  connections.  Tt  is 
a  mining  town  with  a  number  of  large  operations  in  the  vicinity.  The 
Cascade  Coal  and  Coke  Company  with  about  500  employees  operates 
coke  ovens  on  Buck  Run  in  connection  with  their  mining  operations. 
The  Ro<  I  and  Pittsburgh  Coal  and  Tron  Company  has  a  shaft 

near  the  borough   line  on   Sugar  Camp  Run  giving  employment  to 
ab;>ut  200  persons.     About  half  the   inhabitants  derive  water  for 
domestic  purposes  from  wells,  the  remainder  from  a  large  number 
of  springs.     Several  of  these  s.prings  are  controlled  by  private  indi- 
viduals and  piped  to  two  houses  in  the  neighborhood.     The  Cascade 
Coal  and  Coke  Company  supplies  its  own  tenement  houses,  includ- 
ing perhaps  200  persons  with  water  from  an  intake  on  Buck  Run. 
company  also  derives  an  industrial  supply  from  the  same  source 
rens  and  mines.    The  borough  has  no  public  sew- 
.  but   a  number  of  individual  properties  have  private  outlets  to 
lie   runs.     Kitchen    waste   is   discharged    largely   to    the  ground,   a 
it  pari    finding  its  way  to  highways  and  runs.     Surface  privies 
are  in  general  ^y-c  and  many  of  them  are  on  the  banks  of  the  runs  or 
imp  ground.    The  sanitary  conditions  of  the  borough  are  far  from 
good  and  sewers  are  much  needed. 

The  village  of  Eleanor-  is  situated  on  Big  Run  about  five  miles 
north  of  Rig  Ron  borough.  The  village  and  intervening  territory  con- 
tain  a    tot-:]    population   of  about   "U.500.      A    large  amount  of  mine 


1*2 


drainage  is  contributed  to  Big  Run  from  this  region.  The  Rochester 
and  Pittsburgh  Coal  and  iron  Company  derives  a  private  industrial 
supply  from  Laurel  Run  and  Big  Run. 

Big  Run,  Jefferson  County,  population  about  1,000,  is  a  borough 
situated  at  the  junction  of  Big  Run  and  Mahoning  Creek  in  the 
southeastern  part  of  the  county.  Originally  a  lumber  town,  it  is 
still  largely  dependent  on  tlie  allied  industry  of  tanning,  although 
mining  operations  in  the  vicinity  have  aided  its  development  mark- 
edly during  recent  years.  Its  industrial  plants  include  the  tannery 
of  the  William  Irvin  Company  with  a  capacity  of  200  or  more  hides 
daily,  employing  05  hands,  a  lumber  mill  operated  by  the  same  com- 
pany, employing  40  hands,  a  grist  mill  with  live  employees  operated 
in  part  by  water  power  installation  on  Mahoning  Creek,  a  x>laning 
mill  with  ten  employees,  and  a  range  boiler  works  with  about  thirty 
employees.  The  Big  Run  Water  Company  supplies  about  a  third  of 
the  population,  deriving  its  supply  through  the  Lindsey  Water  Com- 
pany from  Clover  Run,  a  branch  of  Mahoning  Creek  above  Big  Run, 
Punxsutawney  is  also  supplied  through  the  same  Lindsey  Water  Com- 
pany. Timber  and  mining  operations  on  the  watershed  of  Clover  Run 
render  the  supply  not  above  suspicion.  A  private  water  system  sup- 
plies twenty  families  with  water  from  a  mountain  spring  and  some 
lifteen  families  are  supplied  from  numerous  springs  throughout  the 
borough.  The  remaining  population  obtain  water  mainly  from  dug 
wells.  The  industries  generally  use  public  water  but  the  mines  have 
private  industrial  supplies.  The  Buffalo  and  Susquehanna  Company 
has  a  private  intake  on  Mahoning  Creek  near  Big  Run.  There  is  no 
municipal  sewerage  system,  but  about  eighteen  houses  are  connected 
by  private  outlets  to  Mahoning  Creek  or  the  tail  race  from  the  mill. 
There  are  four  cesspools  and  perhaps  175  privies  in  the  borough, 
most  of  the  latter  with  loose  vaults,  but  apparently  causing  little 
or  no  pollution  except  their  probable  effect  upon  the  private  wells. 
On  November  2,  1907,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  issued  a  decree 
withholding  from  the  borough  permission  to  increase  the  pollution 
of  Mahoning  Creek  by  the  construction  of  a  proposed  sewer.  Aside 
from  the  sewage  pollution  contributed  by  the  borough  and  the  mine 
water  coming  from  the  numerous  coal  operations  in  the  vicinity,  the 
industrial  wastes  from  the  tannery  of  the  William  Irvin  Company 
add  extensive  pollution  to  the  water  of  the  creek.  The  tannery  treats 
hides  and  in  the  various  processes  uses  equal  amounts  of  extract  and 
bark  and  about  150  pounds  of  sulphuric  acid  daily.  Lime  is  used 
for  dehairing  and  in  bleaching  about  200  pounds  of  soda  a  day  are 
used.  It  is  variously  reported  that  from  13,800  to  23,100  gallons  of 
liquid  wastes  are  daily  discharged  from  the  tannery  including  Avater 
from  hide  soaking,  lime  water,  bleach  water,  and  spent  tan  liquids. 


183 


Rossiter,  Indiana  County,  population  about  2,100,  is  a  village  lo- 
cated in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  county  near  the  boundary  on 
Canoe  Greek,  a  tributary  of  Mahoning  Creek.  It  is  a  mining  town 
dependenl  entirely  upon  the  workings  of  the  Clearfield  Bituminous  ■ 
Coal  Company.  Water  is  supplied  to  the  public  by  a  system  owned 
by  the  coaL company  and  is  derived  from  throe  artesian  wells  from 
which  water  is  pumped  to  two  reservoirs  and  distributed  by  gravity 
to  the  greater  portion  of  the  inhabitants.  The  town  has  no  sewer 
system  and  privies  are  in  general  use,  besides  three  cesspools.  A  few 
individual  drains  discharge  sewage  to  the  creek,  a  :id  several  privies 
contribute  direct  pollution.  Kitchen  waste  almost  universally  is  dis- 
charged on  to  the  ground  and  thence  into  the  highways  or  creek, 
mostly  the  former. 

North  Rossiter,  Indiana  County,  population  about  000,  is  a  village 
practically  adjoining  Rossiter.  It  is  without  industries  being  purely 
a  residential  town  for  miners  employed  in  the  neighboring  coal  mines. 
It  has  no  water  works.  A  certain  spring  used  by  a  portion  of  the 
population  is  liable  to  pollution  by  kitchen  waste  from  two  proper- 
ties. There  is  no  sewerage  system  and  the  privies  that  are  universally 
used  generally  overflow  to  the  highways  and  alleys,  which  also  re- 
ceive the  greater  part  of  the  kitchen  waste. 

On  Elk  Run  about  five  miles  north  of  Punxsutawney  and  extending 
about  two  miles  down  stream,  lies  a  series  of  four  villages  de- 
voted entirely  to  mining,  the  inhabitants  being  employed  in  the  numer- 
ous and  extensive  coal  operations  in  this  section.  The  villages  are 
practically  a  continuous  settlement  and  in  order,  beginning  upstream, 
are:  Florence,  population  2,000;  Anita,  population  2,500;  Crawfords- 
town,  population  550;  and  Adrian,  population  1,400.  A  trolley  line 
from  Punxsutawney  to  Reynold  sville  extends  through  these  settle- 
ments. None  of  the  towns  has  a  sewer  system.  The  water  supply 
of  Florence  is  derived  from  individual  drilled  and  dug  wells  and  from 
springs.  Overflowing  privies  are  numerous  and  kitchen  waste,  garb- 
age and  refuse  are  deposited  indiscriminately  in  the  highways  and 
runs.  At  Anita  the  United  Coal  Company  supplies  water  pumped 
from  a  dug  well  to  a  portion  of  the  population.  Some  fifteen  or  more 
families  use  a  spring  the  remainder  depending  on  wells.  The  same 
unsanitary  conditions  prevail  here  as  noted  above  at  Florence.  At 
Crawfordstown  the  inhabitants  depend  upon  dug  wells  for  their 
water  supply,  and  the  same  unsanitary  conditions  prevail  as  noted 
above.  The  village  of  Adrian  is  owned  exclusively  by  the  Rochester 
and  Pittsburgh  Coal  and  Iron  Company  which  has  extensive  mines 
and  512  coke  ovens.  The  company  operates  a  system  of  water  sup- 
ply, the  source  of  which  is  in  two  drilled  wells  pumped  by  compressed 
air  to  a  24,000  gallon  reservoir.     There  is  only  one  cesspool  in  the 


1S4 


town  and  a  privy  vault  is  provided  for  every  five  to  eight  families, 
and  the  sanitary  condition  is  much  better  than  that  of  the  neighbor- 
ing towns  above.  The  coal  company  at  Adrian  derives  a  private  in- 
dustrial supply  for  i Is  coal  and  coke  operations  from  Little  031k  Run. 
It  is  said  that  60,000  gallons  of  water  daily  are  used  by  125  of  its 
ovens. 

Punxsutawney,  Jefferson  County,  population  about  10,000,  is  a 
borough  located  in  the  south  central  part  of  Jefferson  County  on  Ma- 
honing Creek.  It  is  a  manufacturing  and  mining  community,  depend- 
ing largely  on  coal  operations  in  the  vicinity.  Its  industrial  plants 
comprise  the  Punxsutawney  Iron  Works  blast  furnaces,  the  Star 
Iron  Works,  two  large  brick  yards,  the  Eldred  Glass  Company's  new 
plant,  the  Punxsutawney  Beef  and  Provision  Company,  three  ma- 
chine shopis,  three  planing  mills,  two  flour  mills,  two  breweries,  and 
a  refining  plant.  About  one  half  of  the  people  obtain  drinking 
water  from  sources  on  private  properties,  often  in  close  proximity 
to  earth  privy  vaults  in  a  porous,  gravel  formation.  The  Punxsu- 
tawney Water  Company  supplies  water  to  the  public,  formerly  from 
Mahoning  Creek  within  the  borough,  but  more  recently  from  the  Lind- 
sey  Water  Company  whose  source  is  Clover  Run,  a  tributary  of  Ma- 
honing  Creek  at  a  point  above  Big  Run  borough.  A  filter  plant  was 
installed  by  order  of  the  Commissioner  of  Health.  The  borough  has 
a  system  of  public  sewers  serving  part  of  the  municipality  and  hav- 
ing eleven  outlets  to  Mahoning  Creek  ranging  in  size  from  ten  to 
twenty  inches,  beside  which  there  are  some  thirty-five  private  sewers 
into  Elk  Creek.  There  are  also  four  private  sewers  and  fourteen 
privies  discharging  on  the  banks  or  directly  into  the  stream.  In 
some  districts  kitchen  wastes  are  discharged  into  the  highways.  Most 
of  the  public  sewers  were  originally  intended  for  sanitary  purposes 
only,  but  have  been  used  as  combined  sewers,  thus  'being  overtaxed 
and  frequently  backflooding  into  the  properties  connected  to  them. 

Probably  over  2,000  persons  contribute  sewage  to  Mahoning  Creek 
at  this  point.  The  industrial  plants  in  the  borough  discharge  no 
manufactural  wastes  of  importance  but  the  mine  waters  from  the 
numerous  extensive  operations  in  the  vicinity  yield  large  quantities 
of  acid  mine  drainage,  greatly  affecting  the  condition  of  the  stream. 

In  a  decree  relative  to  sewerage  issued  by  the  Commissioner  of 
Health  to  Punxsutawney  July  1st,  1909,  the  following  discussion 
was  set  forth: 


185 


"The  local  authorities  have  not  accompanied  their  application  with  detail  plans 
and  profiles.  Neither  have  they  filed  in  the  office  of  the  State  Department  of  Health 
profiles  of  any  of  the  sewers  in  the  town.     It  is  as  impossible  for  the  State  officers 

to  properly  consider  and  advise  with  respeet  to  the  merits  of  a  sewer  design  as 
it  is  for  the  local  officials  to  do  so  without  adequate  information  as  a  basis  for  con- 
sideration. 

"There  can  be  no  doubt  about  the  necessity  for  improved  sewerage  in  the  borough, 
but  how  best  to  remedy  the  evils  and  to  do  ibis  in  the  m.>st  economical  manner 
is  a  problem  which  demands  thorough  study,  first  by  the  local  authorities  and  then 
by  the  Stat",  it  cannot  be  reasonably  expected  of  the  Governor,  Attorney  General 
and  the  Commissioner  of  Health  that  this  high  authority  should  approve  a  plan 
which  may   prove   to   be   ill-conceived   and    require   undoing  in   five,    ten   or   fifteen 

years.      The    State    Department    of    Health   does    not    have    before    it    the    evidence    to 

"show  that  the  borough  of  Punxsutawney  has  given  a  proper  study  to  the  problem. 

"It  appears  that   the  sewers  now  existing  are  small   in  diameter  because   they   were 

originally  designed  for  sanitary  conduits,  but  they  have  been  turned  into  i mined 

sewers  temporarily  perhaps  so  that  what  was  intended  to  conserve  the  health  of 
the  community,  has,  if  the  representations  be  correct,  proven  to  be  a  detriment  to 
the  health  of  the  community. 

"The  first  question  naturally  to  be  asked  under  the  circumstances  would  be 
whether  the  interests  of  the  public  health  do  not  demand  that  the  sewers  be  re- 
stored to  their  use  originally  contemplated  and  whether  other  channels  of  proper 
size  and  otherwise  suitable  should  not  be  provided  for  the  removal  id'  storm 
water. 

"Furthermore,  while  it  may  be  true,  as  alleged,  that  there  are  no  towns  along 
Mahoning  Creek  which  derive  their  source  of  drinking  water  from  the  creek  and 
while  the  acid  mine  drainage  may  kill  the  sewage  organisms  in  the  waters  of  the 
creek  under  ordinary  conditions  thereby  making  it  quite  improbable  that  pathogenic 
pollution  reaches  the  Allegheny  River  from  the  Mahoning  Creek  valley  much  of 
the  time,  nevertheless  it  is  also  probable  that  there  are  weeks  at  a  time  during  certain 
months  of  the  year  when  sewage  from  Punxsutawney  borough  is  discharged  by 
the  Mahoning  Creek  into  the  Allegheny  River.  Kittanning  borough  derives  its 
source  of  supply  from  this  river  at  a  point  a  few  miles  below  the  mouth  of  Mahoning 
Creek  and  there  have  been  very  extensive  epidemics  of  water  borne  diseases  in  Kit- 
tanning.  ...  , 

"It  is  probable  that  Punxsutawney  will  continue  its  existence  after  the  coals 
shall  have  been  exhausted  from  its  vicinity  and  hence  after  the  destruction  of 
bacteria  by  acid  mine  drainage  has  ceased.  One  resource  of  the  State  is  bound  to 
increase  in"  value  as  the  years  go  by  and  that  is  the  water  supply.  The  health  of  the 
people  and  the  purity  of  the  waters  of  the  State  are  vitally  connected.  No  perma- 
nent public  improvement  relative  to  sewerage  should  be  inaugurated  in  Puiisu- 
tawney  that  does  not  contemplate  the  preservation  of  the  purity  of  the  waters  of 
the  State  ultimately  even  though  temporarily  for  some  good  reason  sewage  be  per- 
mitted to  discharge  into  such  waters.  Pennsylvania's  policy  and  that  of  many  other 
states  is  to  bring  about  ultimately  the  discontinuance  of  the  discharge  of  all  sewage 
into  streams  used  subsequently  as  the  source  of  public  water  supply.  The  lower 
Allegheny  River  is  and  must  continue  to  be  the  source  of  supply  to  Greater  Pitts- 
burgh and  this  alone  dictates  the  contemplation  of  the  treatment  sometime  of 
Punxsutawney  sewage.  _  ,  .,  .  .  .     ,    , 

"It  does  not  seem  to  be  practicable,  owing  to  the  prohibitive  cost,  to  treat  mingled 
sewage  and  storm  water.  The  borough  of  Punxsutawney  should  study  the  problem 
of  its  surface  drainage*  independently  of  the  problem  of  sewerage  for  house  drainage, 
and  plans  for  the  collection  and  treatment  of  all  of  the  sewage  of  the  borough 
should  be  prepared  and  submitted  to  the  Commissioner  of  Health  for  approval 
and  when  the  plans  shall  have  been  approved  and  finally  adopted,  then  the  borough 
may  proceed,  from  time  to  time  to  build  sewers  in  compliance  therewith." 

Smicksburg,  Indiana  County,  population  250,  is  a  small  borough 
in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  county  on  Little  Mahoning  Creek 
about  two  miles  and  a  half  from  its  junction  with  Mahoning  Creek. 
It  is  a  rural  community  without  industrial  plants.  The  region 
produces  considerable  natural  gas  and  is  underlain  with  coal,  al- 
though the  only  mining  done  is  for  local  use.  Water  is  derived  from 
sixty  nine  private  drilled  and  dug  wells  and  two  springs.  There  is 
no  sewer  system,  privies  bein.2;  in  general  use,  several  of  them  on  the 
bank  of  a  small  run,  and  kitchen  waste  being  generally  disposed  of 
to  the  mound.  There  is  a  small  water  power  development  here  on 
Little  Mahoning  Creek. 


ISO 


Dayton,  Armstrong  County,  population  1,000,  is  a  borough  sit- 
uated on  Glade  Run  about  three  miles  from  its  confluence  with  Ma- 
honing Creek.  There  are  no  industries  of  importance  in  the  (own, 
but  natural  gas  and  coal  are  abundant  in  the  surrounding  country 
and  there  is  a  colliery  close  by  operated  by  the  Dayton  Coal  Com 
pany.  There  is  no  public  water  system,  dug  wells  and  a  few  drilled 
wells  supplying  most  of  the  inhabitants  while  a  few  depend  upon 
several  springs,  one  of  them  quite  large  and  extensively  used.  There 
are  no  public  sewers,  but  a  large  number  of  individual  drains  dis- 
charge kitchen  waste  and  some  sewage  to  the  highways  or  the  sev- 
eral runs  which  drain  the  borough.  Privies  are  in  general  use,  many 
of  them  causing  direct  pollution  of  the  runs. 

(c)  Typhoid  Fever.  In  Table  XL1I1  are  given  the  typhoid  cases 
reported  to  the  State  Department  of  Health  from  11)06  to  1912  in- 
clusive by  the  local  authorities  of  the  several  places  of  importance 
in  this  division  of  the  Allegheny  River  basin. 

TABLE  XLIII. 

Typhoid  Fever  Cases  Reported  for  the  Section  of  the  Allegheny  Basin  from  Mahoning 
Creek  to  Crooked.  Creek,   1906 — 1912,   inclusive. 


Adrian     (Hosp.), 

Big     Kun 

Punxsutawney,     . 

Sykesville,      

Smieksburg,     

Applewold,     

Ford   City 

Kittanning 

W.     Kittanning, 

Manorville,      

Dayton,     

Wickboro 

Rural    Valley,    .. 
Yatesboro,*    


1906. 

1907. 

1908. 

1909. 

1910. 

1911.  i 

33 

44 

0 

0 

0 

0 

4 

4 

0 

0 

0 

1 

36 

39 

23 

11 

21 

11 

0 

0 

6 

14 

4 

1 

0 

0 

2 

0 

0 

o 

1 

0 

0 

1 

0 

0 

3 

0 

0 

17 

1 

14 

8 

110 

4 

4 

0 

9 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

3 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

7 

14 

6 

0 

0 

0 

0 

•0 

8 

4 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

*42  cases  in  1904. 


Section  14. — Crooked  Creek  to  Kiskiminetas  River. 

(a)  Crooked  Creek  Drainage  Area.  Crooked  Creek  heads  in  two 
branches,  Pine  and  Rayne  Runs,  in  East  Mahoning  township  among 
the  hills  of  northern  central  Indiana  County.  These  branches  flow 
in  a  generaly  southwesterly  direction  joining  at  Gaibleton  to  form 
Crooked  Creek.  From  here  the  creek  continues  southwesterly  and 
crosses  into  Armstrong  County  at  a  point  twelve  miles  north  of  the 


187 


Kiskiminetas,  measuring  along  the  county  line.  From  this  point 
the  general  trend  of  the  valley  is  northwest  or  nearly  parallel  to  the 
Kiskiminetas.  The  course  of  the  stream,  as  its  name  implies,  is  tor- 
tuous and  irregular  J  in  point  of  tail,  mere  than  half  its  length  is  due 
to  the  frequent  turns  and  bends. 

The  principal  tributaries  of  Crooked  Creek  are  from  the  north  in 
which  direction  the  larger  part  of  the  basin  is  situated;  towards  the 
south,  the  limits  of  the  basin  are  confined  very  nearly  to  the  hills 
which  overlook  the  stream.  Plum  Creek,  its  main  tributary  rises  in 
two  branches  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Indiana  County.  These 
How  in  a  general  southwesterly  direction  into  Armstrong  County  and 
join  about  five  miles  above  the  junction  with  Crooked  Creek.  From 
this  point.  Crooked  Creek  flows  in  a  southward  course  through  a 
wide  and  deep  valley,  the  hills  bordering  the  stream  usually  about 
300  feet  high,  then  northwesterly  to  the  Allegheny  River. 

Its  run  off  is  irregular  and  only  capable  of  very  limited  use. 
The  slope  of  the  creek  throughout  its  length  of  twenty-eight  miles  in 
Armstrong  county  averages  ten  feet  to  the  mile  and  is  regularly  and 
evenly  distributed,  but  the  maximum  slope  of  the  headwaters  is  far 
greater  than  this.  The  water  supply,  though  generally  ample  for 
such  uses  as  are  now  made  of  it  in  turning  a  few  grist  mills,  is  sub- 
ject to  changes,  which  represent  the  extremes  of  severe  droughts  and 
high  floods.  Owing  to  the  nature  of  the  drained  area  the  floods 
sometimes  rise  within  a  few  hours  filling  the  creek  banks  and  sub- 
side again  nearly  as  quickly.  The  mean  annual  rainfall  is  between 
forty  and  forty-five  inches. 

Crooked  Creek  drains  an  area  of  280  square  miles,  embracing  parts 
of  Armstrong  and  Indiana  counties,  the  basin  presenting  a  consid- 
erable variety  of  topographical  aspects.  The  hills  immediately  bor- 
dering the  stream  frequently  present  high  vertical  cliffs  on  both 
sides;  at  other  places  the  creek  flows  through  a  broad  valley  with 
meadow  lands  stretching  with  easy  slopes  to  the  base  of  the  hills. 
Usually  the  conditions  are  a  steep  hill  on  one  side  and  a  more  gentle 
declivity  on  the  other.  On  the  tops  of  these  hills  are  the  uplands, 
the  summits  of  which  are  often  500  feet  above  the  creek  level.  The 
hills  of  this  region  are  invariably  benched;  so  also  are  some  of  the 
lower  hills  but  the  benches  there  are  less  distinct.  The  geological 
structure  of  the  Crooked  Creek  region  consists  of  a  series  of  shallow 
synclinal  basins  separated  by  low  anticlinal  arches.  Sandstone  ex- 
ists in  boundless  profusion,  much  of  it  being  valueless,  and  extensive 
deposits  of  fire  clay  and  limestone  are  also  found.  This  region  was 
formerly  a  wilderness  of  oak,  the  greater  part  of  which  has  been 
removed  in  clearing  for  farms,  the  remaining  timber  in  the  low  lands 
being  chiefly  chestnut  and  oak,  and  in  the  up-lands  white  oak. 


188 


The  total  population  of  the  basin  is  12,370  divided  into  the  fol- 
lowing proportions:  urban  3,260,  rural  9,110.  The  rural  population 
is  approximately  thirty-three  to  the  square  mile. 

There  are  no  important  cities  on  the  shed,  the  largest  town,  Ern- 
est, in  Indiana  County,  having  a  population  1,800.  This  is  an  unin- 
corporated coal  settlement  owned  by  the  Jefferson  and  Clearfield 
Coal  Company. 

The  only  water  power  installations  on  Crooked  Creek  or  its  tribu- 
taries are  small  installations  on  Plum  Creek  at  Elderton  and  on 
Crooked  Creek  at  South  Bend,  both  in  Armstrong  County.  Indus- 
trially agriculture  and  coal  mining  are  the  paramount  interests  of 
the  drainage  area  with  some  production  of  natural  gas.  Beside  the 
coal  operations  there  are  no  industrial  plants  of  importance.  The 
Crooked  Creek  watershed  in  Armstrong  County  has  no  railroads; 
but  in  Indiana  County  the  B.  R.  &  P.  R.  R.  crosses  the  territory  with 
a  branch  from  Creekside  to  Indiana,  passing  through  Ernest,  the 
total  trackage  being  about  twenty-five  miles.  Crooked  Creek  is  not 
used  for  domestic  water  supply  except  that  at  Ernest  the  Jefferson 
and  Clearfield  Coal  Company  draws  water  from  McKees  Run  which 
is  filtered  before  it  is  supplied  to  the  consumers.  The  only  other 
public  water  supply  is  that  of  the  Marion  Center  Water  Company 
which  derives  water  from  spirings.  The.  Jefferson  and  Clearfield 
Coal  Company's  water  system  at  Ernest  is  used  for  industrial  pur- 
poses at  the  mines  and  coke  ovens,  but  otherwise  there  is  no  industrial 
supply  in  the  region.  There  are  no  public  sanitary  sewerage  systems  in 
this  territory  and  but  few  private  sewers.  -Beside  domestic  sewage,  the 
only  pollution  of  importance  on  the  watershed  is  contributed  by  the 
coal  mines.  There  are  twenty  mines,  the  drainage  from  nine  of  which 
is  pumped  and  this  amounts  to  2,650  gallons  a  minute;  the  other 
eleven  mines  have  natural  drainage  and  discharge  805  gallons  a 
minute. 

The  State  Fish  Commission,  has  stocked  Crooked  Creek  and 
some  of  its  tributaries  with  yellow  perch,  bass  and  pike  perch. 

Marion  Center,  Indiana  County,  population  400,  is  a  borough  in 
the  north  central  part  of  Indiana  county  at  the  head  waters  of  Pine 
Run,  one  of  the  upper  tributaries  of  Crooked  Creek.  It  is  a  rural  com- 
munity, its  one  industry  being  a  large  grist  mill.  The"  Marion  Water 
Company  supplies  water  to  about  ten  families  with  spring  water 
derived  from  a  bluff  overlooking  the  town,  the  remaining  population 
depending  on  a  few  individual  springs  and  about  seventy-seven  wells, 
mostly  dug.  There  are  no  public  sewers  and  only  a  few  private  sew- 
ers serving  a  dozen  or  more  families.  The  remaining  population  use 
privies,  the  greater  part  unlined.  Kitchen  waste  disposal  is  to  the 
ground  and  to  Pine  Run. 

189 
13 


Creekside,  Indiana  County,  is  a  borough  situated  in  the  -western 
part  of  the  county  on  Crooked  Creek.  The  business  interests  of  the 
place  are  all  centred  about  the  mining  of  coal  which  is  extensively 
carried  on  in  the  immediate  vicinity.  Natural  gas,  formerly  found 
and  used  here,  lias  given  out  and  the  wells  are  abandoned.  A  pri- 
vate water  company  recently  incorporated  as  the  Creekside  Water 
Company,  supplies  perhaps  a  third  of  the  population,  the  average 
consumption  being  about  9,000  gallons  a  day,  from  live  springs  south 
of  the  borough,  the  remaining  population  deriving  water  from  six 
drilled  wells  and  thirty-two  dug  wells.  The  borough  has  no  public 
sewer  system,  but  there  are  some  nine  private  sewer  outlets 
serving  individual  properties.  Kitchen  waste  is  largely  discharged 
to  the  ground  and  to  highways  and  runs.  Garbage  and  rubbish  are 
dumpied  into  a  ravine  which  drains  directly  to  Crooked  Creek. 
Privies  are  in  general  use,  being  lor  the  greater  part  dug  in  gravelly 
soil. 

Ernest,  Rayne  township,  Indiana  county,  population  1,800,  is  an 
unincorporated  coal  town  four  miles  north  of  Indiana  and  about  a 
mile  southeast  of  Crooked  Creek  at  Creekside,  to  which  stream  its 
drainage  runs  by  way  of  McKees  Run.  The  surrounding  country  is 
wooded  and  the  extensive  mining  operations  of  the  Jefferson  and 
Clearfield  Coal  and  Iron  Company  are  the  only  interests.  In  con- 
nection with  its  mines,  the  company  operates  278  coke  ovens.  The 
255  homes  in  the  village  are  all  owned  by  the  coal  company  which 
supplies  them  with  water  pumped  from  McKees  Run,  filtered,  and 
to  some  extent  from  two  drilled  wells.  This  water  is  also  used  for 
industrial  purposes.  The  town  has  no  sewers  except  two  short  lines 
serving  a  few  families.  The  privies  which  are  in  general  use  are 
mostly  dug  in  hardpan  and  frequently  overflow,  causing,  together 
with  the  kitchen  wastes,  a  decidedly  unsanitary  state  of  affairs  in 
the  highways  and  along  the  banks  of  the  run. 

Shelocta,  Indiana  County,  population  110,  is  a  small  borough  near 
the  western  boundary  of  the  county  on  Crooked  Creek.  It  is  in  a 
rich  farming  country,  and  coal  is  found  in  abundance  with  mining 
operations  near  by.  Each  of  the  thirty  residences  in  the  borough  has 
its  own  dug  well.  The  borough  has  two  public  storm  sewers,  but  no 
sanitary  sewers  except  a  few  from  individual  properties.  Privies  are 
in  general  use,  a  few  of  them  being  on  the  banks  of  the  creek  and 
kitchen  waste  is  discharged  on  the  ground  and  to  ditches  and  high- 
ways or  the  run. 

Atwood,  Armstrong  County,  population  160,  is  a  borough  situated 
in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county  on  Plum  Creek,  a  tributary  enter- 
ing Crooked  Creek  near  the  county  line.  It  is  a  rural  community 
with  no  industries  but  extensive  coal  operations  are  carried  on  in 
the  vicinity.     Water  for  domestic  use  is  obtained  from  individual 


190 


sources  including  nine  springs,  nine  dug  wells  and  twenty-two  drilled 
wells.  Six  properties  have  individual  private  sewers  but  there  are 
no  public  sewers,  each  house  having  a  board  lined  or  unlined  privy. 
But  three  properties  here  appreciably  pollute  (lie  water  course. 

(b)  Along  Allegheny  River.  From  its  point  of  confluence  with 
Crooked  Creek,  the  Allegheny  River  Hows  in  n  southwesterly  direc- 
tion a  distance  of  nearly  eleven  miles  to  the  extreme  southwestern 
corner  of  Armstrong  County  where  it  is  joined  by  the  Kiskiininetas 
River.  The  banks  along  the  stream  are  steep  and  high  but  back  from 
the  river  are  sloping  hills  on  either  side;  the  slopes  and  uplands 
of  these  are  covered  with  farms.  During  this  part  of  its  course 
rocks  are  seldom  absent  from  the  shoals,  often  lying  partially-buried 
in  the  gravel  and  proving  dangerous  obstructions  to  navigation.  The 
total  population  of  this  section  is  3,740,  divided  as  follows:  urban 
800,  rural  2,940. 

This  section  of  the  Allegheny  River  has  been  stocked  with  bass, 
yellow  perch,  pickerel  and  pike  perch. 

The  dominant  industries  along  this  section  of  the  river  are  coal 
mining  and  the  manufacture  of  clay  products,  other  industries  being 
of  little  or  no  importance  except  farming.  Aside  from  the  numerous 
small  operations  there  are  nine  coal  mines  of  importance  and  the 
coal  working  industry  centers  about  a  large  plant  at  Johnetta,  com- 
monly known  as  White  Rock.  The  Allegheny  Division  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Railroad  follows  the  east  bank  of  the  river  throughout  the 
section  a  distance  of  about  eleven  miles.  The  only  town  of  import- 
ance, Johnetta,  has  no  public  water  system,  the  inhabitants  depend- 
ing upon  springs  and  driven  wells  for  domestic  purposes.  The  United 
States  Sewer  Pipe  Company  at  this  place  derives  a  supply  for  their 
plant  from  springs.  There  are  no  public  sewer  systems,  but  the  bor- 
ough of  Johnetta  directly  or  indirectly  contributes  considerable  do- 
mestic sewage.  The  total  urban  and  rural  sewage  polluting  popula- 
tion in  this  division  is  estimated  at  1,240  persons.  Mine  water  is 
the  principal  industrial  polluting  factor.  Of  the  nine  mines  investi- 
gated, one  is  pumped,  200  gallons  a  minute  being  discharged,  and 
eight  have  natural  drainage  discharging  440  gallons  a  minute. 

Johnetta  borough,  Armstrong  County  (White  Rock  Railroad  sta- 
tion) situated  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the  river  about  thirty-three 
miles  above  Pittsburgh  and  about  three  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the 
Kiskiininetas  River,  has  an  estimated  population  of  about  S00  de- 
pending exclusively  for  employment  upon  the  works  of  the  United 
States  Sewer  Pipe  Company.  The  plant  is  situated  along  the  river 
the  town  extending  up  the  bluff  to  the  hills  above.  The  plant  em- 
ploys about  500  men,  manufacturing  brick  and  sewer  pipe  and  min- 
ing coal.  There  is  no  public  water  supply  system,  the  population 
deriving  their  water  supply  for  domestic  uses  from  driven  wells  and 


191 


springs.  The  sower  pipe  company  also  derives  water  for  use  at  its 
plant  from  springs  on  the  hillside.  There  is  no  public  sewer  system 
but  there  are  uiue  or  more  private  sewers  discharging  into  the  river, 
five  of  which  come  from  the  works  of  the  sewer  pipe  company.  Three 
of  these  are  twenty-four  inches  and  two  twelve  inches  in  diameter. 
Kitchen  wastes  art'  commonly  deposited  on  the  ground  and  the  gen- 
eral conditions  are  far  from  sanitary.  A  few  of  the  houses  which  are 
connected  with  private  sewers  have  baths,  closets,  etc.  The  indus- 
trial wastes  from  the  sewer  pipe  works  are  not  of  sanitary  import- 
ance. 

(c)  Typhoid  Fever.  In  the  following  tabular  statement  appear 
the  cases  of  typhoid  fever  in  this  section  of  the  Allegheny  River 
basin  that  have  been  reported  by  the  local  health  authorities  to  the 
State  Department  of  Health  for  the  years  1906  to  1912  inclusive: 

Typhoid  Fever  Cases  Reported  for  the  Section  of  the  Allegheny  B;isin  from  Crooked 
Creek  to  Kiskiminetas  River,  190&— 1912,  inclusive. 


Johnetta, 
Elderton, 
Creeksido, 


1906. 

1907. 

1908. 

1909. 

1910. 

1911. 

0 

1 

7 

2 

3 

0 

C 

0 

0 

1 

0 

1 

0 

0 

1 

0 

] 

2 

Section  15. — Kiskiminetas  Rivet-  to  (Brilliant)  Pittsburgh, 
(a)  Kiskiminetas  River  Drainage  Area. 

1.     General  Description  of  the  River  and  Its  Main  Tributaries. 

The  name  Kiskiminetas,  said  to  mean  "Make  Daylight,"  in  the 
language  of  the  aboriginal  tribes  which  inhabited  its  banks,  is  con- 
fined to  the  reach  of  the  river  below  the  junction  of  its  two  main 
branches,  the  Conemaugh  and  Loyalhanna,  a  few  miles  east  of  the 
Armstrong  County  line. 

The  Conemaugh  rises  in  numerous  rivulets  in  the  southeastern 
portion  of  Cambria  County  and  flows  with  many  sharp  turns  and 
bends  in  a  southwesterly  direction  to  Johnstown.  Here  the  river 
turns  northwest  and  continues  this  general  direction  to  its  conflu- 
ence wTith  the  Loyalhanna  near  Saltsburg  where  they  form  the  Kiski- 
minetas. The  head  waters  of  this  stream  flow  in  deep  gorges  with 
high  steep  banks.  The  country  drained  consists  mainly  of  woodlands, 
covered  for  the  most  part  with  a  scrub  growth,  but  there  are  a  few 
upland  farms  on  some  of  the  plateaus.    From  Johnstown  the  Cone- 


192 


maugh  River  enters  a  deep,  narrow,  winding  gorge,  through  Laurel 
Eidge,  the  most  westerly  range  of  the  Alleghenies.  The  precipitous 
banks  are  covered  with  fragments  of  shale  and  sandstone  which  have 
slid  down  from  the  cliffs  above  on  both  sides  of  the  river.  These 
cliffs  extend  over  1,000  feet  above  the  bed  of  the  river  and  show 
plainly  the  structure  of  the  mountain,  forming  as  they  do  a  regular 
arch  about  five  miles  wide.  Issuing  from  the  gorge  the  river  flows 
between  high,  steep  banks  through  open  but  rather  broken  country. 
The  hills  bordering  the  river  are  from  300  to  400  feet  high  and  are 
quite  uniform  and  regular  except  at  Elders  Ridge  where  they  rise 
much  higher.  Back  from  the  river  the  general  surface  of  the  coun- 
try rises  very  gradually  and  merges  into  an  elevated  plateau.  The 
country  is  very  much  broken  by  small  hills  and  valleys  but  the  topo- 
graphy presents  in  substance  one  broad  inclined  plane  tilted  slightly 
toward  the  southwest.  The  main  stream  cuts  transversely  across 
the  Ligonier  Valley  exposing  a  natural  geological  section  embracing 
2,000  feet  of  rocks. 

The  total  population  of  the  basin  of  Little  Conemaugh  River 
above  South  Fork  is  15,690  divided  as  follows:  urban  8,760,  rural 

6,930. 

The  total  population  of  the  basin  of  the  South  Fork  of  the  Cone- 
maugh River  above  South  Fork  is  3,590,  divided  as  follows:  urban 
650,  rural  2,940. 

The  total  population  of  the  Kiskiminetas  basin  above  Johnstown 
30,950,  divided  into  the  following  proportions:  urban  19,460,  rural 
11,490. 

Gaugings  taken  at  South,  Fork  on  September  23,  1908,  showed  the 
minimum  discharge  of  the  Little  Conemaugh  and  the  South  Fork 
of  the  Little  Conemaugh  to  be  9.40  and  5.52  second  feet  respectively. 
A  gauging  taken  at  Johnstown  on  September  23,  1908,  showed  the 
minimum  discharge  of  the  Little  Conemaugh  to  be  21.97  second  feet. 

Black  Lick  Creek,  the  main  tributary  entering  the  Conemaugh  from 
the  north  drains  an  area  of  403  square  miles.  It  rises  in  Cambria 
county  and  flows  in  a  general'  westerly  direction  to  its  confluence 
with  the  Conemaugh.  The  headwaters  of  this  stream  are  in  wood- 
lands and  during  the  first  part  of  its  course  it  flows  through  a  steep 
gorge,  strewn  with  boulders,  with  walls  about  400  feet  high.  The 
flow  here  is  very  swift  but  the  valley  soon  widens  until  the  banks  are 
but  five  feet  high  and  the  flow  is  less  rapid.  At  its  junction  with 
the  Conemaugh,  Black  Lick  Creek  is  about  seventy-five  feet  wide 
and  has  a  yellow  color,  due  chiefly  to  drainage  from  coke  ovens  at 
Coral  and  Graceton,  while  the  Conemaugh  itself  is  about  200  feet 
wide  and  its  waters  are  a  dark  brown.  Two  Lick  Creek  and  Yellow 
Creek,  the  main  tributaries  of  Black  Lick  Creek  flow  through  flat, 


193 


well  farmed  valleys  with  rolling  hills  on  either  side.  Yellow  Creek 
at  its  junction  with  Black  Lick  Creek  is  about  forty  feet  wide  and 
stained  a  brownish  yellow  color,  the  result  of  mining  operations. 
The  total  population  of  (he  watershed  of  Black  Lick  Creek  above 
Black  Lick  is  28,000  divided  as  follows:  urban   1.7,830,  rural  10,170. 

Stony  Creek,  the  Largest  tributary  of  the  Conemaugh  from  the 
south,  rises  in  the  eastern  pail  of  Somerset  county  and  Hows  in  a 
general  northerly  direction  to  its  confluence  with  the  Conemaugh 
River  ;it  Johnstown.  The  valley  of  this  stream  is  aarrow  and  steep 
with  high  bluffs  on  either  side  and  is  strewn  with  boulders.  Stony 
Creek  is  both  muddy  and  rapid  and  the  main  stream,  ;is  well  as  its 
tributaries,  is  stained  by  sulphur  deposits  from  the  many  mines 
along  its  course  and  on  its  tributaries.  A  gauging  taken  at  Johns- 
town on  September  23rd,  1908,  showed  the  minimum  discharge  to 
he  11.!'.")  second  feet.  The  total  population  of  the  basin  of  Stony 
Creek  above  JohnstoAvn  is  21,500  divided  as  follows:  urban  10,050, 
rural  10,850. 

Loyalhanna  Creek  rises  in  the  southeastern  corner  of  Westmore- 
land county  and  Hows  northwest  to  Latrobe;  here  it  changes  its  di- 
rection to  west  of  north  to  Saltsburg  where,  in  its  confluence  with 
the  Conemaugh,  the  Kiskiminetas  River  is  formed.  The  headwaters 
of  this  creek  are  numerous  small  runs  which  flow  with  high  velocity 
through  deep  gorges.  The  course  of  the  creek  below  Latrobe  is  very 
sinuous  and  the  flow  becomes  gradually  less  rapid  as  the  stream  nears 
the  Kiskiminetas.  The  valley  of  the  Loyalhanna  is  a  broad  one  with 
wooded  bluffs  found  along  the  stream  and  open  farming  country  be- 
yond. The  creek  and  its  tributaries  are  badly  stained  by  mine  drain- 
age which  enters  them  all  along  their  courses.  A  gauging  taken  at 
Saltsburg  on  September  24,  1908,  showed  the  minimum  discharge  to 
l»e  10.72  second  feet.  The  total  population  of  the  Loyalhanna  Creek 
basin  is  32,260,  divided  as  follows:  urban  14,110,  rural  18,150. 

From  its  origin  at  the  confluence  of  the  Loyalhanna  and  the  Cone- 
maugh. the  Kiskiminetas  flows  with  man}7  long  bends  in  a  general 
northwesterly  direction  to  the  Allegheny  River  at  Kiskiminetas 
junction.  The  valley  of  the  river  near  the  confluence  of  the  Loyal- 
hanna iiiul  Conemaugh  is  fairly  Avide  and  well  formed  but  narrows 
as  the  Allegheny  is  approached.  The  river  is  about  200  feet  wide  at 
its  mouth.  Farm  lands  are  found  all  along  this  part  of  its  course. 
This  valley  presents  a  succession  of  steep  slopes  broken  by  frequent 
lateral  ravines.  The  slopes  are  from  300  to  400  feet  in  height  and 
merge  into  rolling  uplands  which  rise  100  feet  higher.  On  this 
plateau  there  is  some  excellent  farming  country  situated  at  an 
elevation  of  1.100  to  1,200  feel  above  sea  level.  The  topography  is 
governed  by  the  geology.  Where  the  river  is  crossed  by  the  anticlinals 
the  valley  narrows  into  a  gorge;  where  crossed  by  the  synclinals,  it 


194 


widens  and  expands,  the  hills  on  both  sides  retiring  with  more  easy 
slopes  towards  the  uplands.  Moreover,  to  the  same  causes,  the  fre- 
quent long  bends  in  the  river  are  attributed.  The  bed  of  the  river 
in  this  section  has  a  shallow  covering  of  gravel  and  rounded  pebbles, 
chiefly  sandstone  and  limestone  and  "fragments  of  coal  and  slate.  A 
high  plateau  divides  the  waters  of  the  Kiskiminetas  and  Crooked 
Creek.  The  average  volume  of  water  from  the  Kisldminetas  is  small, 
considering  the  extent  of  territory  drained  by  it,  but  affords  a  su- 
perb water  power,  ample,  abundant  and  obtainable  at  small  cost. 
On  either  side  of  the  Kisldminetas  at  its  mouth  are  steep,  rounded, 
wooded  hills  with  farmlands  both  to  the  right  and  left.  There  are 
many  coal  mines  along  its  course  and  its  waters  are  badly  stained 
by  mine  drainage. 

The  Kisldminetas  drains  an  area  of  1.846  square  miles,  in  West- 
moreland, Armstrong,  Indiana,  Somerset,  and  Cambria  counties.  Al- 
though draining  a  large  area  its  flow  is  proportionately  small.  Gaug- 
ings  of  the  flow  of  the  river  by  the  Water  Supply  Commission  taken 
at  a  regular  gauging  station  at  Avonniore,  show  the  minimum  dis- 
charge over  a  period  of  nineteen  months  to  be  sixty  second  feet.  The 
total  population  of  the  Kisldminetas  basin  above  Avonmore  is 
215,720  divided  as  follows :  urban  144,040,  rural  71,680. 

Kiskiminetas  Junction,  the  point  where  the  Kiskiminetas  joins 
the  Allegheny  Kiver,  is  30.2  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  Allegheny 
and  about  278  miles  from  the  source  of  the  Allegheny.  The  total 
population  of  the  basin  is  239,270  divided  into  the  following  propor- 
tions :  urban  158,570,  rural  80,700. 

The  total  rural  population  is  approximately  forty-four  to  the 
square  mile. 

In  the  Kiskiminetas  basin  there  are  twenty-nine  cities  having  a 
population  of  over  1,000,  the  largest  of  which  will  be  fully  described 
below. 

Rainfall  records  taken  at  Johnstown,  Saltsburg,  and  Freeport 
show  the  annual  precipitation  in  inches  to  be  as  follows: 


Johnstown, 
Saltsburg, 
Freeport, 


Years  of 
Complete 
Records. 


Total  Period 
of  years 
Covered. 


Precipitation  in  Inches. 


57.39 
58.28 
57.93 


37.55 
35.00 
30.83 


47. 5S 
3S.35 

41.  SS 


Johnstown  with,  a  population  of  60,000  is  the  largest  municipality 
in  the  Kiskiminetas  basin.  It  is  located  at  the  confluence  of  Stony 
Creek  and  the  Conemaugh  River. 

Latrobe,  a  mining  and  manufacturing  community  with  a  popula- 
tion of  10,000  is  situated  in  the  Loyalhanna  Valley  in  the  north 
central  piart  of  Westmoreland  county. 


195 


Indiana  borough  has  a  population  of  7,000,  is  the  county  seat  of 
Indiana  county,  and  is  situated  in  the  south  central  part  of  this 
county  on  a  branch  of  Two  Lick  Creek. 

Windber  is  situated  in  the  northern  part  of  Somerset  county  on 
Paint  Creek,  a  tributary  of  Stony  Creek.  It  has  a  population  of 
5,000  and  is  a  thriving  mining  town  of  recent  origin. 

South  Fork  has  a  population  of  4,500  made  up  principally  of  for- 
eign miners.  It  is  situated  in  south  central  Cambria  county  at  the 
junction  of  the  two  principal  branches  of  the  Conemaugh  River,  the 
Little  Conemaugh  and  the  South  Fork. 

East  Conemaugh  is  a  railroad  and  manufacturing  community  im- 
mediately east  of  Johnstown  on  the  Little  Conemaugh  River  and 
has  a  population  of  4,050. 

Blairsville  is  a  municipality  of  about  3,500  located  in  the  extreme 
south  central  part  of  Indiana  county  on  an  elevated  plateau  at  the 
base  of  which  is  the  Conemaugh  River. 

2.  General  Description  of  Natural  Resources,  Industrial  Develop- 
ment, Water  Supply  and  Sanitation. 

Coal  and  water  are  the  two  chief  resources  of  this  division  of  the 
Allegheny  basin  although  the  soil  is  susceptible  of  greater  utility. 

Xine  water  power  developments  have  been  noted  in  the  basin,  for 
the  most  part  operating  grist  mills  or  planing  mills  and  of  small 
size.  On  the  Little  Conemaugh  River  or  its  tributaries  above  South 
Fork  there  are  installations  at  Ebensburg,  Wilmore,  Summerhill, 
and  Ehrenfeld,  all  in  Cambria  county.  At  or  near  Stoyestown,  Som- 
erset county,  there  is  one  installation  on  Beaver  Dam  Run  and  three 
on  Stony  Creek,  one  of  the  latter  developing  thirty  horsepower  at 
Kantner.  At  Black  Lick  village,  Indiana  county,  there  is  a  small 
development  on  Black  Lick  Creek. 

In  the  early  days  the  Kiskiminetas  was  an  important  artery  of 
navigation  forming  the  principal  means  of  communication  between 
this  region  and  Pittsburgh.  Following  the  use  of  canoes  and  rafts 
the  keel-boat  came  into  service  about  1816  when  a  large  number  of 
these  boats  were  used  for  transportation  of  salt  from  Saltsburg  to 
Pittsburgh  and  points  beyond  down  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Rivers. 
In  1820  the  State  authorized  the  construction  of  a  canal  from  the 
month  of  the  Kiskiminetas  River  to  Pittsburgh.  This  was  built  and 
further  extensions  made  to  Blairsville  and  later  to  Johnstown.  A 
railroad  for  transporting  boats  over  the  Allegheny  mountains  from 
Tortage  to  Hollidaysburg,  was  built  and  the  canal  transportation 
system  from  Pittsburgh  to  Philadelphia  was  finished  in  1834.  The 
portion  from  Johnstown  to  Pittsburgh  was  discontinued  in  1870, 
when  railroad  transportation  crowded  out  and  superseded  the  canals. 

The  industrial  activities  of  the  basin  are  centered  around  and  de- 
pendent upon  the  vast  mineral  resources  found  here  in  exceptional 

196 


abundance.  Enormous  deposits  of  bituminous  coal  primarily  make 
the  field  especially  attractive  for  industrial  development  in  the  pro- 
duction of  steel  and  its  products.  Low  grade  iron  ore,  found  in  many 
places,  was  formerly  refined  in  the  old  charcoal  furnaces  long  since 
abandoned  in  the  march  of  progress.  At  Johnstown,  however,  an 
extensive  deposit  of  high  grade  iron  ore  supplied  the  furnaces  there 
until  a  recent  date.  Coal  is  found  in  nearly  all  portions  of  the  basin 
and  the  mining  and  preparation  of  it  as  coal  or  in  the  form  of  coke 
is  a  vast  industry  as  noted  elsewhere.  The  production  of  steel  and 
its  finished  products  predominates  in  and  around  Johnstown,  as  well 
as  at  Avonmore,  Leechburg,  Saltsburg,  and  Vandergrift.  ■  Import- 
ant plants  are  also  found  at  other  points.  Glass  is  manufactured  at 
Indiana,  Latrobe,  Derry,  Blairsville,  and  Saltsburg.  Clay  is  an  im- 
portant mineral  resource  and  its  products,  bricks,  tiles  and  china- 
ware  are  produced  extensively  at  Latrobe,  Reward,  Garfield,  Bolivar, 
Derry,  and  Hyde  Park.  The  manufacture  of  woolen  goods,  paper, 
and  flour  is  carried  on  at  several  points. 

With  the  growth  of  manufacturing  and  the  development  of  the  re- 
sources, railroads  have  come  into  existence  and  follow  closely  many 
of  the  principial  tributaries  as  well  as  the  river  itself.  The  Penn- 
sylvania Railroad  has  about  360  miles,  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  thirty- 
two  miles,  the  Buffalo,  Rochester  and  Pittsburgh  about  eighteen 
miles,  the  Ligonier  Valley,  ten  miles,  and  other  roads,  twenty-five 
miles,  making  a  total  of  some  445  miles  of  main  lines  within  the 
Kiskiminetas  River  basin. 

The  domestic  water  supplies  in  the  many  cities  and  towns  are 
derived  largely  from  surface  sources.  Springs  and  wells,  both  dug 
and  drilled,  are  largely  used  however.  Municipal  ownership  in  this 
region  is  rare,  there  being  but  four  places  where  there  are  publicly 
owned  supplies  namely:  Ebensburg,  which  has  a  spring  supply,  and 
Ligonier,  Blairsville,  and  Saltsburg  with  surface  supplies.  These 
represent  a  total  population  of  about  10,000  persons,  not  all  of  whom 
however,  use  the  public  water.  There  are  thirty-nine  places  supplied 
with  water  by  corporations.  Ten  of  these,  representing  a  total  popu- 
lation of  about  13,000  persons,  are  supplied  with  water  derived  from 
springs  and  wells,  and  in  three  of  these  cases  the  supplies  are  filtered. 
The  remaining  twenty-nine  places  are  supplied  with  surface  water, 
the  supplies  for  four  of  the  places  being  filtered.  These  twenty-nine 
places  represent  a  total  population  of  about  122,000  persons,  not  all 
of  whom,  however,  use  the  public  supply. 

Industrial  water  supplies  are  obtained  and  used  by  many  of  the 
manufacturing  establishments  and  nearly  all  of  the  large  plants 
have  their  own  supplies.  This  also  applies  to  the  coal  and  coke 
operations.  Private  industrial  supplies  are  obtained  at  the  follow- 
ing places  among  others: 

197 


KISKIMIXETAS   BASIN. 
Private  Industrial  Supplies  of  Water. 


Place. 

County. 

Source. 

Remarks, 

Vlntondale,   ... 
Josephine 

Somerset, 

Cambria 

Indiana 

Indiana 

Indiana 

Cambria 

Westmorel'd, 

Indiana 

Westmorel'd, 

Westmorel'd, 

Armstrong,    .. 
Westmorel'd, 

Black      Lick     Creek     (North 
Branch). 

Well  &   Black   Lick  Creek,.. 

S]  rings  and  auxiliary  from 

Two    Lick    Creek. 
Springs    and    auxiliary    from 

Two  Lick   Creek. 

Stony  Click,   and   Hlnckston 
Run,    small    tributaries  of 
Conemaugb    River. 

Drilled    wells    Ethel    Springs 

Run. 
Conemaugb    River 

Si isct   Coal  Co. 

Black  i  k-k  Water  Co.  soils  to  Vin- 
ton Colliery  Co.  500,000  gallons 
dally  for  steam  and  for  washing 
coal   Tor  coking. 

Furnace  Water  Co.  supplies  the  .To 
Bephine  Furnace  and  Coke  Co.  for 
strain    and    coking. 

Qraceton  Coke  Co.  8.000,000  gals. 
daily  used   tor  washing  coal. 

Joseph    Wharton    Coal    >V;    Coke    Co. 

Johnstown,    ... 

Deny 

Saltsburg 

Vandergrift,    .. 

i  arge    quantit  ios    used    for    wasb 

Ing   coal. 

Manufacturers    Water    Co.    supplies 

various   plants.     Cambria   Steel   Co. 
( ireenbrier      Water     Co.      suppl  es 
fi.OOO    gals,     daily     to     Johnstown 
Pressed    Brick    Co.     Various  other 
plants. 
Locomotive   and   steam   use. 

American   Sheet   and   Tin  IMate  Co., 

100.000  gallons   daily. 
American    si t    and    Tin    Plate   Co. 

lit  million   gals,   daily. 
United   Engineering  and  Foundry  Co. 

Leechburg,    ... 
W.    Leechburg 

150,000  gals,    daily. 

300,000  gals,  daily. 
West      Leechburg     Sheet     and     Tin 
Plate  Co. 

Table  XLIV  shows  the  mineral  properties  of  the  Kiskiminetas 
River  at  Apollo  and  the  Coneraaugh  River  at  Blairsville  and  Johns- 
town. 

TABLE  XLIV. 

Mineral  Analyses  of  Kiskiminetas  River  Water  at  Apollo  and  the  Conemaugb  River 
at   Rlairsville  and   Johnstown. 

By  the  Wra.   B.   Scaife  &  Sons  Laboratory. 

Parts  per  Million. 


Determination. 


Volatile  and   Organic 

Silica 

Iron    and    Al.    Oxide,    

Calcium    Oxide 

Magnesium   oxide 

Sodium    Oxide 

Sulphuric     Anhydride 

Carbonic    Anhydride     (fixed), 
Carbonic    Anhydride     (free), 

Chlorine 

Nitric    Anhydride,     

Calcium   Sulphate 

Magnesium    Suli  bate 

Magnesium    Chloride 

Magnesium   Nitrate 

Sodium    Sulphate 

Sodium    Chloride 

Sodium    Nitrate,     

Acidity  as   n  s< 

Alkalinity 

Total    Solids,     

Ruspi  nded      matter 

Free  Carbonic  Acid 

r  .->■    Sulphuric    Acid,    

Incrnstlng    Solids 

Non-Inerusting    Solids 


At  Johnstown 
July,   1906. 


6 

2 

6, 

34 

11 

11 

69, 

None. 

11 

13 

Trace 

83 

32. 


None. 
152 
19. 
11. 


130 
23. 


At  Blairsville 
May,  1909. 


29.0 
7.7 
4.3 

20.4 
8.6 
5.3 

44.5 
None. 

11.2 
7.4 
0.8 

49.9 

22.6 
1.9 
1.2 


!i  :i 


None. 
None. 
126.5 
4.3 
11.2 


S7.6 
9.9 


At  Apollo 
July,  190S. 


19.7 
16.2 
18.0 
65.0 
25.8 
22.9 
1SG.7 


20.7 

12.0 

1.7 

157.3 

77.5 


26.2 

19.7 

2.7 

33.5 


377.7 
0.9 
20.7 
33.5 

289.2 
48.6 


198 


Table  XLV  shows  the  acidity  of  the  streams  above  Johnstown  upon 
which  extensive  mining  operation  occur  and  the  alkalinity  of  the 
Oonemaugh  River  below  these  streams  and  the  acidity  of  the  lower 
portion  of  the  Kiskiminetas  River  receiving  the  drainage  from  the 
major  portion  of  the  entire  watershed,  made  by  the  laboratories  of 
the  Water  Bureau  of  the  city  of  Pittsburgh. 

TABLE  XLV. 

Acidity  and  Alkalinity  Tests  by  Chemists  of  Water  Bureau  of  City  of  Pittsburgh 

Parts  per  Million. 


Near  Johnstown: 

Stony   Creek 

Stony     Creek,      

Clapboard    Creek,     

Cambria   Steel   12   in.    drain 

Near     Windber, 

Kuu     above,      

Creek   Mine   No.    36 

Mine    Waste    No.    36,     

Mine  Waste  No.   35 

Creek  below  No.   35,    

Paint     Creek 

Stony    Creek    above    Paint    Creek,    ... 

Stony  Creek  below  Paint  Creek 

Conemaugh  River: 

Above    Clapboard    Run,-    

Above    dam 

Below    dam 

Abo\e   Johnstown,    

Below   Cambria    Steel   12   in.    drain,    . 

Below   Cambria    Steel   blast    furnace, 

Below    Cambria    Steel   blast   furnace, 

Below   Cambria    Steel   blast   furnace. 

Below   Cambria   Steel   blast   furnace, 

Below   Cambria    Steel   blast   furnace, 

Below    Stony    Creek ,     

At    Coopersdale,     

At   Blairsville 

(Magee's  Run,  mouth — Blairsville), 
Kiskiminetas  River: 

At    mouth .• 

At    mouth 

Above   Beechburg,    

West     Apollo 

Above   Beaver   Run    West   Apollo,    . . . 


Date  of  Sample. 


Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 

Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 

Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 

Aug. 
Aug. 

Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 


24,  1909,  .. 

24,  1S09,  .. 

24,  1809,  .. 

24,  1809,  .. 

27.  1909,  .. 

27,  1909,  .. 

27,  1900,  .. 

27,  1909,  .. 

27,  1909,  .. 

27,  1908,  .. 

27,  1909,  .. 

27,  1909,  .. 


1909,  .. 

1909,  .. 

1909,  .. 

1909,  .. 

1909,  .. 

1S09,  .. 

1909,  .. 

1909,  .. 

1909,  .. 

1909,  .. 

1909,  .. 

1909,  .. 

1909,  .. 

1909,  .. 


26,  1909,  .. 

28,  1909,  .. 

26,  1909,  .. 

26,  1909,  .. 

26,  1909,  .. 


Acidify. 


Alkalinity, 


4.0 
42.0 
159.0 
28.0 

133.0 

75.0 
70.0 
6S.0 
87.0 

172.0 
3.0 

111.0 


7.0 
7.0 
36.0 

66.0 
67.0 

52.0 
39.0 
45.0 


4.0 
6.0 
8.0 
22.0 
7.0 
27.0 
8.0 
6.0 
14.0 
46.0 
45.0 


The  principal  polluting  factors  are  domestic  sewage  and  industrial 
wastes  and  both  are  very  extensive  in  the  Kiskiminetas  River  basin. 
The  sewage  pollution  is  somewhat  offset  by  the  acid  wastes  from 
mines  and  manufacturing  plants  during  low  water  periods. 

Domestic  sewage  is  contributed  by  a  large  population.  Out  of  a 
total  urban  population  of  about  159,000,  living  in  sixty-four  cities, 
boroughs  and  villages,  there  are  twenty-four  places  which  have  pub- 
lic sewTers,  serving  all  or  a  part  of  these  towns.  In  these  twenty-four 
places  there  are  123,000  persons.  Many  of  these  and  other  places 
have  pollutions  other  than  by  way  of  the  public  sewers  and  it  is 
estimated  that  the  total  sewage  polluting  population  is  about  111,- 
500,  of  which  126,500  reside  in  towns  and  1S.000  in  the  rural  dis- 
tricts.   Indiana  borough,  population  7.000,  and  Derry  borough,  popu- 


199 


latiou  2,900,  have  sewage  disposal  plants  for  the  treatment  of  the 
public  sewage.  These  two  places,  as  well  as  Ligonier,  population 
2,500",  and  Westmont,  population  1.500,  have  separate  sanitary  sewer 
systems. 

The  industrial  wastes,  reaching  the  waters  of  the  Kiskiminetas 
River  and  its  tributaries,  are  very  extensive,  by  far  the  largest  being 
coal  mine  drainage.  Associated  with  this  and  of  further  serious  im- 
portance, on  account  of  the  large  amount  of  finely  divided  coal  car- 
ried in  suspension  and  deposited  in  the  stream  below,  are  the  wastes 
from  washeries  in  which  coal  is  prepared  for  coking,  notably  at 
Vintondale,  Josephine,  Graceton,  and  Coral  on  Black  Lick  Creek  and 
its  tributaries,  and  in  the  district  above  Latrobe  on  Loyalhanna 
Creek.  Manufactural  wastes  have  been  noted  at  the  following 
places,  among  others: 

INDUSTRIAL  WASTES. 


Place. 

County. 

Stream. 

Remarks. 

Kbetisburg,     ... 

Cambria 

Cambria 

Cambria 

Westmorel'd, 

Cambria 

Indiana,      .... 

Westmorel'd, 

Westmorel'd, 

Armstrong,    .. 

Small     tributary     of     Little 
Coneniaugh    Itiver. 

Woolen   Mill. 

Nant-y-glo,   ... 

works. 
Chemical  plant  nearby. 

washing) , 
Woolen   Mill    (dyes). 
Slaughter    House    Wastes. 

extrusive. 

ported    filtered). 
Alcania   Co.    (Tin   Plate)    (Sulphuric 

acid    wastes). 
American    Sheet   and    Tin    Plate    Co. 

Vandergrift,   .. 
Leechburg,    ... 

i  Muriatic        &        Sulphuric        acid 
.  wastes). 
Pittsburgh     Shovel     Co.      (Sulphuric 

Acid  Wastes). 

3.     Survey  of  Little  Conemaugh  River  Sub-Basin. 

On  the  Little  Conemaugh  Eiver  sub-basin  above  South  Fork  Creek 
tributary  are  the  boroughs  of  Cresson,  Lilly,  Portage,  Ebensburg, 
AVilmore,  Summerhill,  and  the  village  of  Ehrenfeld. 

Cresson,  Cambria  County,  population  2,000,  is  a  borough  situated 
in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county  on  the  divide  between  the  Susque- 
hanna and  the  Allegheny  River  watersheds,  the  greater  portion  of 
the  borough  draining  to  the  latter  by  way  of  Laurel  Run,  the  head 
waters  of  the  Conemaugh  River.  It  is  a  railroad  centre,  being  the 
junction  point  between  the  mainline  and  two  branch  lines  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad.  Its  inhabitants  are  largely  employed  by  the 
railroad  or  the  Pennsylvania  Coal  and  Coke  Company,  whose  opera- 
tions are  handled  from  division    headquarters  at    this    point.     The 


200 


Cresson  Machine  and  Car  Company's*  shops  are  located  in  Sanker- 
town,  an  adjoining  borough  on  the  Susquehanna  watershed  and  give 
employment  to  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  Cresson.  Cresson  bor- 
ough has  many  surface  springs  and  one-half  the  population  take  wa- 
ter from  driven  wells,  dug  wells  or  springs.  The  remaining  inhabit- 
ants are  supplied  by  two  water  compianies,  the  Cresson  Water  Com- 
pany supplying  about  500  persons  with  water  from  mountain  springs 
augmented  in  the  summer  by  a  drilled  well,  and  the  Rebecca  Water 
Company,  whose  source  is  three  springs  located  within  the  borough. 
The  Commercial  House  has  a  private  supply  from  a  spring  on  the 
hillside.  There  is  a  public  system  of  sewers  and  several'  private 
sewers  in  the  borough  discharging  into  Laurel  Run.  Privies  abound 
and  there  are  cesspools  of  the  percolating  type.  The  borough  con- 
structed a  sanitary  system  of  sewers  with  a  twenty-four  inch  outlet 
into  Laurel  Run  below  the  borough  line.  On  August  16th,  1907,  the 
Commissioner  of  Health  issued  a  permit  for  this  system  subject  to  cer- 
tain conditions  and  stipulations,  one  of  which  required  that  plans 
for  sewage  disposal  be  prepared  and  submitted  to  the  Commissioner 
of  Health  for  approval. 

Lilly,  Cambria  County,  population  1,600,  is  a  borough  dependent 
for  its  financial  support  on  extensive  coal  operations  in  its  vicinity. 
It  is  situated  on  the  Little  Conemaugh  River  in  the  eastern  part  of 
Cambria  County  and  about  three  miles  below  its  source  at  Cresson. 
Water  is  supplied  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  borough  by  the  Mountain 
Spring  Water  Company  which  is  operated  by  the  Summit  Water 
Supply  Company.  The  supply  for  Lilly  is  derived  from  an  intake 
on  Bear  Rock  Run.  The  borough  has  a  combined  system  of  public 
sewers  discharging  through  a  twenty-four  inch  pipe  into  the  Little 
Conemaugh  River  below  the  borough,  to  which  there  are  said  to  be 
some  sixty  connections.  In  addition  to  this  system  there  are  said  to  be 
ten  private  sewers  discharging  to  Bear  Rock  Run,  three  to  the  Little 
Conemaugh  and  eleven  privies  draining  into  Bear  Rock  Run.  Be- 
side the  sewage  pollution  noted  the  stream  at  this  point  receives  a 
large  amount  of  mine  water  from  the  coal  operations  nearby. 

Portage,  Cambria  County,  population  1,500,  is  a  borough  situated 
on  the  Little  Conemaugh  River  near  the  mouth  of  Trout  Run.  There 
are  a  number  of  coal  operations  in  and  near  the  borough  providing 
employment  for  practically  all  of  the  working  population.  There 
are  eight  of  these  mines  in  Trout  Run  valley  operated  by  the  follow- 
ing companies:  Forge  Mining  Company,  Irish  Brothers  Mining  Com- 
pany, George  Pierce  &  Sons,  Puritan  Mining  Company,  Baker- 
Whitely  Mining  Company,  Plymouth  Mining  Company,  Princess 
Barno  Mining  Company,  Last  Chance  Mining  Company.  Water  is 
supplied  to  the  public  by  the  Martindale  Water  Company  whose 
sources  of  supply  are  Trout  Run  at  a  point  about  four  miles  from  the 
borough,  whose  watershed  has  about  fifteen  inhabitants  and  Farren 

201 


linn  whose  drainage  area  has*a  population  of  about  seventy-live  per- 
sons.    Beside  the  public  supplies,  about  a  hundred  individual  wells 

e  in  use  throughout  the  borough,  many  of  which  are  liable  to  pol- 
lution  from  cesspools,  ami  overflowing  privy  vaults.  Cesspools  and 
privies  are  generally  used,  in  addition  to  which  about  fifteen  private 
sewers  discharge  into  Trout  Run  and  eleven  private  sewers  dis- 
charge  t<>  a  spring  ran.  The  town  lias  a  few  public  sewers.  Trout 
Run  receives  much  mine  drainage,  but  this  is  not  true  of  Spring 
Run  and  the  sewage  discharged  into  the  latter  stream,  therefore, 
creates  more  of  a  nuisance. 

In  August.  L911,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  issued  a  permit  for 
certain  sewers  to  be  built  in  Portage.  In  this  permit  the  following 
discussion  occurs. 

"Modern  sewerage  facilities  are  needed  in  the  borough  of  Portage.  The  local 
health  board  is  handicapped  in  its  efforts  to  maintain  a  sanitary  condition  in  the 
town  by  the  lack  of  adequate  sewerage  works.  The  installation  <>t'  sewers  on  all 
streeta  will  give  the  local  authorities  an  opportunity  to  correct  the  existing  nui- 
sances.    The  proposed  sewers  are  to  be  paid  for  by  assessing  the  abutting  property 

(  whits  on   the  foot  front   plan 

"Tin1  Little  Conemaugh  River  has  its  source  near  the  borough  of  Cresson  in 
the  Allegheny  Mountains  seven  miles  northeast  of  Portage.  From  its  headwaters 
it  flows  down  through  a  narrow  valley  receiving  along  its  course  numerous  tribu- 
"taries  which  rise  in  the  mountainous  territory  lying  on  both  sides.  The  boroughs 
of  Lilly  and  Cresson,  in  addition  to  a  few  mining  towns  are  located  along  the 
course  of  the  stream. 

"Drainage  from  these  towns  is  into  the  Little  Conemaugh  River,  cither  directly 
or  indirectly.  In  the  boroughs  of  Cresson  and  Lilly  sewer  systems  have  been  in- 
stalled. At  Portage  considerable  mine  drainage  enters  the  river  from  the  mining 
operations  in  the  vicinity  and  down  stream  six  miles  both  domestic  sewage  and 
mine  drainage  are  discharged  into  the  river  from  the  borough  of  South  Fork  and  the 
village   of  Ehrenfeld. 

"At  Johnstown  the  Little  Conemaugh  River  unites  with  Stony  Creek  to  form  the 
Conemaugh  River  which  flows  from  this  point  in  a  general  southwesterly  direction 
to  Saltsburg,  where  it  unites  with  the  Loyalhanna  Creek  forming  the  Kiskiminetas 
River.  On  the  Conemaugh  River  watershed  are  located  a  number  of  mine  opera- 
tions which  turn  into  the  streams  a  vast  quantity  of  acid  mine  water. 

"The  Conemaugh  River  is  first  used  for  domestic  purposes  at  1'lairsville  approxi- 
mately forty-four  miles  below  Portage.  The  supply  passes  through  a  distributing 
reservoir  having  a  capacity  less  thau  the  daily  consumption.  Nearly  the  entire 
population  of  the  town  use  this  water  which  receives  no  purification. 

"Seventeen  miles  below  Blairsville  is  the  valley  of  Saltsburg  where  over  one 
thousand  people  are  served  with  river  water  daily.  The  raw  water  is  raised  to  a 
distributing   reservoir  holding  about  thirteen  days'  supply. 

"From  Freeport  down  to  the  mouth  of  the  Allegheny  River,  a  distance  of  twenty- 
eight  miles,  the  water  of  this  stream  is  used  to  a  very  great  extent  by  the  munici- 
palities located  along  its  banks.  The  largest  consumer  of  the  Allegheny  River 
is  the  city  of  Pittsburgh  in  which  municipality  a  population  of  five  hundred  thousand 
is  served  with  river  Mater.  The  Pittsburgh  city  intake  is  down  stream  a  distance  of 
only  one  hundred  miles. 

"it  is  a  general  belief  that  the  danger  of  obtaining  a  public  water  supply  from 
the  Conemaugh  River  without  filtration  of  water  is  minimized  because  of  the  dis- 
infection by  acid  mine  drainage  of  sewage  discharged  into  the  river  itself  and  its 
tributaries  by  the  municipalities  up  stream.  However,  during  times  of  freshets 
the  effect  of  the  acid  in  the  streams  may  be  so  neutralized  by  the  introduction  of  a 
large  volume  of  storm  water  as  to  fail  in  destroying  the  sewage  bacteria  which  may 
then  be  rapidly  carried  down  stream  and  taken  into  the  various  water  works  systems 
through  the  intakes  to  the  river.  Because  the  purifying  agencies  at  work  cannot 
be  controlled  and  regulated,  it  becomes  a  necessity  in  the  interests  of  public  health 
to  exclude  from  streams,  which  are  used  as  sources  of  public  water  supply,  un- 
treated sewage  from  the  municipalities  located  on  their  drainage  areas.  If  the 
Conemaugh  River  and  other  tributaries  were  not  acid  streams  the  probabilities 
are  that  the  towns  down  stream  using  the  river  as  a  source  of  public  water  supply 
I   have  been  visited  by  serious  epidemics  arising  from  water  borne  diseases. 

"In  order  to  protect  the  interests  of  the  public  health,  it  will  be  necessary 
eventually  to  exclude  from  the  streams,  which  are  a  source  of  public  water  supply, 
untreated  sewage.  It  is  the  intention  of  the  State  authorities  to  bring  this  about 
in  the  district  in  which  Portage  borough  is  located. 

202 


"The  borough  of  Cresson  has  received  a  permit  from  the  Commissioner  of  Heal  th 
permitting  sewer  extensions  to  be  made  with  the  stipulations  that  the  borough  snouia 
prepare  plans  for  the  purifying  of  its  sewage  and  submit  same  to  the  <  ommissioner 
of  Health  for  approval.  South  Fork  borough  has  made  extensions  to  its  sewerage 
system  under  conditions  and  stipulations  provided  by  the  Oommisioner  ol  Healtn, 
among  others  the  borough  was  required  to  submit  plans  for  a  comprehensive 
sewerage  system  and  sewage  disposal  works  to  said  Commissioner  for  approval. 
Below  South  Fork,  the  boroughs  of  Scalp  Level,  Indiana,  Blairsville,  Saltsburg, 
and  Derry  have  all  been  required  to  prepare  plans  for  the  purification  ol  tneir 
sewages.  The  boroughs  are  all  located  in  the  Conemaugh  River  Basin.  Lhe 
boroughs  of  Derry  and  Indiana  have  already  constructed  and  put  in  operation 
sewage  disposal   plants. 

"The  borough  of  Scalp  Level  was  required  to  submit  plans  for  a  sewage  disposal 
works  on  May  first,  nineteen  hundred  and  eleven,  and  the  borough  of  Blairsville 
is  engaged  in  the  preparation  of  plans  leading  to  a  discontinuance  of  the  discharge 
of  untreated  sewage  into  the  waters  of  the  State. 

"Plans  for  the  disposal  and  collection  of  all  sewage  from  the  borough  of  Portage 
should  be  prepared  and  submitted  to  the  Commissioner  of  Health  for  approval. 
A  site  for  the  location  of  a  sewage  purification  works  should  be  decided  upon  and 
the  plans  for  the  plant  should  be  made.  It  is  important  now  for  the  borough  to 
adopt  complete  plans  for  sewerage  and  these  plans  must  provide  for  an  intercepting 
sewer  from  the  two  outlets  to  a  sewage  disposal  plant  or  to  a  pumping  station  and 
disposal  plant.  The  plans  should  also  show  the  grades  of  all  sewer  lines,  then 
after  the  plans  are  approved,  modified  or  amended  the  borough  may  make  extensions 
from  time  to  time  as  the  necessity  demands. 

"The  assessed  valuation  of  Portage  is  reported  to  be  five  hundred  and  ninety- 
six  thousand,  four  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  and  the  bonded  indebtedness  about 
seven  thousand  dollars.  If  these  figures  be  correct  the  borough  can  borrow  in  the 
neighborhood  of  thirty-five  thousand  dollars  for  public  improvements  before  the  legal 
indebtedness  is  exceeded.  This  amount  is  not  sufficient  to  pay  the  cost  of  the 
complete  sewer  system  for  the  borough  and  the  construction  of  sewage  disposal 
works." 

Ebensburg,  Cambria   County,  population  2,150,  is  a  borough  and 

the  county  seat  situated  in  the  central  part  of  the  county  on  a  high 
level  plateau  between  the  head  waters  of  the  north  branch  of  the 
Conemaugh  Eiver  and  of  Black  Lick  Creek.  The  surrounding  coun- 
try is  devoted  largely  to  farming  and  the  town  is  quite  popular  as  a 
summer  resort.  There  are  no  important  industries  in  the  borough 
except  a  small  woolen  mill  and  a  grist  mill  with  a  water  power  in- 
stallation on  the  north  branch  of  the  Little  Conemaugh.  The  bor- 
ough has  a  municipal  water  supply  whose  sources  are  mountain 
springs  collected  in  two  intakes,  one  on  Black  Lick  Creek  and  the 
other  on  the  Conemaugh  watershed.  The  sources  are  free  from  pol- 
lution and  the  water  is  very  generally  taken,  only  about  a  dozen  dug 
wells  being  used  in  the  borough.  The  borough  has  an  extensive  com- 
bined system  of  sewers  traversing  nearly  all  of  the  streets  and  hav- 
ing a  single  outlet  discharging  into  the  north  branch  of  the  Cone- 
maugh about  a  mile  below  the  borough  limits.  Lake  Kowena,  a  small 
pond  and  resort  near  the  borough  which  furnishes  the  local  ice  sup- 
ply, receives  considerable  pollution  from  a  number  of  properties. 
Waste  from  the  woolen  mill  is  also  discharged  into  the  lake. 

On  the  north  branch  of  the  Little  Conemaugh  Eiver  there  is  an  im- 
pounding reservoir  located  about  two  miles  northeast  of  Wilmore 
borough  and  within  the  boundaries  of  Summer-hill  township.  The 
dam  is  900  feet  long  and  35  feet  high  and  was  completed  in  1908.  It 
forms  a  lake  two  miles  long  holding  over  one  billion  gallons  of  wa- 
ter. The  borough  of  Ebensburg  is  located  at  the  u piper  end  of  this 
watershed  which  comprises  about  twenty-five  square  miles.  A 
twenty-four  inch  pipe  extends  from  the  dam  down  the  valley  through 

203 


Wilmore  borough  to  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  and  then  westerly 
along  the  railroad  through  Summerhill  borough,  Ehrenfeld  village, 
and  South  Fork  to  East  Conemaugh  fourteen  miles  distant  where  it 
terminates  in  a  distributing  reservoir  of  4,000,000  gallons  capacity. 
The  system  is  used  by  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  to  fur- 
nish water  to  the  railroad  yards  at  South  Fork  and  to  large  yards 
and  shops  in  East  Conemaugh  borough.  During  the  drought  in 
190S  the  Conemaugh  and  Franklin  Water  Company  was  temporarily 
supplied  from  this  twenty-tour  inch  pipe  line.  The  borough  of  Sum- 
merhill and  the  village  of  Ehrenfeld  are  supplied  by  the  Cambria 
County  Water  Supply  Company  that  has  reserved  rights  to  some 
of  the  water  from  the  Wilmore  dam.  Hence  the  Commissioner  of 
Health  has  required  the  borough  of  Ebensburg  to  prepare  plans  for 
the  erection  of  a  sewage  treatment  plant. 

Wilmore,  Cambria  County,  population  360,  is  a  borough  situated 
at  the  junction  of  the  north  and  east  branches  of  the  Little  Cone- 
maugh River.  It  is  a  rural  community  in  a  rich  coal  region,  but 
there  are  no  mining  operations  in  the  immediate  vicinity.  There  is 
no  public  water  system  but  the  Cambria  County  W^ater  Supply  Com- 
pany has  a  franchise.  About  ten  families  derive  their  supply  from 
springs,  beside  which  there,  are  five  or  six  drilled  wells  and  a  large 
number  of  dug  wells.  There  are  no  public  sewers  and  only  a  few 
private  sewers  from  individual  properties.  About  six  cesspools  are 
in  use,  but  the  inhabitants  generally  use  privies  dug  in  gravelly  soil. 
A  small  water  power  development  exists  here  on  Little  Conemaugh 
River. 

Summerhill,  Cambria  Couuty,  population  700,  is  a  borough  sit- 
uated at  the  junction  of  Laurel  Run  and  Little  Conemaugh  River. 
The  inhabitants  are  largely  employed  in  the  neighboring  mines, 
beside  which  the  only  industrial  activities  are  a  small  planing  mill 
and  two  slaughter  houses.  There  is  a  small  water  power  installa- 
tion here  on  the  Little  Conemaugh.  The  public  generally  derive 
water  for  domestic  uses  from  dug  wells  beside  which  there  are  a 
few  drilled  wells  and  springs  in  use.  The  Cambria  County  Water 
Supply  Company  serves  perhaps  twenty-five  families  with  water 
derived  from  Laurel  Run.  The  borough  has  three  combined  sewers, 
only  one  of  which  is  extensive,  being  about  1,400  feet  in  length. 
Privies  are  universally  used,  some  of  them  in  compact  shale  and 
subject  to  frequent  overflow,  others  in  percolating  gravelly  soil 
and  both  types  are  frequently  a  menace  to  the  numerous  private 
dug  wells  scattered  throughout  the  borough.  One  of  the  slaughter 
houses  drains  to  a  highway,  and  garbage  and  kitchen  waste  are 
discharged  indiscriminately  into  the  streets  and  on  the  banks  of  the 
streams.  Many  privies  overflow  into  the  streets  and  alleys  and 
some  of  them  overhang  the  banks  of  the  Little  Conemaugh  and 
Laurel  Run. 

204 


Ehrenfelcl,  Croyle  Township,  Cambria  County,  is  a  mining  village 
with  a  population  of  450  situated  on  the  Little  Conemaugh  River 
just  above  South  Fork.  There  is  a  small  water-power  development 
at  this  point  on  the  Little  Coneraaugh  River.  Water  is  supplied  to 
the  public  in  this  village  by  the  Cambria  County  Water  Supply 
Company  from  Laurel  Run  above. Summerhill  borough.  Practically 
the  entire  village  directly  or  indirectly  contributes  sewage  pollu- 
tion. 

'St.  Michael,  Adams  Township,  Cambria  County,  is  an  un- 
incorporated mining  village  on  the  South  Fork  of  the  Little  Cone- 
maugh  River,  population  300.  Tt  is  a  new  settlement  established 
by  the  Martland  Coal  Company  for  recently  opened  mines.  The 
Flat  Rock  Water  Company  has  constructed  a  system  to  supply 
water  for  domestic  and  industrial  purposes  to  the  inhabitants  of 
the  village  and  the  Coal  Company  uses  a  branch  of  the  South  Fork 
known  as  Toppers  Run.  The  watershed  above  the  intake  com- 
prises about  two  square  miles  including  perhaps  ten  farm  properties 
and  the  small  village  of  Salts  with  150  population.  Careful  sani- 
tary precautions,  if  exercised,  should  protect  this  supply  and  render 
it  reasonably  safe. 

Below  South  Fork  Creek,  in  the  sub-basin  of  the  Little  Cone- 
maugh  River,  are  the  boroughs  of  South  Fork,  East  Conemaugh, 
and  Franklin. 

South  Fork,  Cambria  County,  population  4,500  is  a  borough  sit- 
uated in  the  south  central  part  of  Cambria  County  at  the  junction 
of  the  South  Fork  with  the  Little  Conemaugh  River  some. ten  miles 
east  of  Johnstown.  It  is  a  coal  mining  town  dependent  largely 
upon  the  local  operations  of  the  Steinman  Coal  <&  Coke  Company. 
The  borough  has  a  system  of  combined  sewers  aggregating  some 
11,000  feet  and  serving  about  one-fourth  the  population,  discharging 
by  way  of  two  outlets  into  a  ditch  from  which  the  sewage  finds  its 
way  into  the  Little  Conemaugh  River  above  the  junction  of  the  South 
Fork.  Conditions  along  this  ditch  would  doubtless  be  offensive 
but  for  the  fact  that  a  coal  mine  discharges  its  acid  drainage  into 
the  same  channel.  Nearly  all  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  borough  are 
supplied  with  water  by  the  South  Fork  Water  Company,  a  corpora- 
tion deriving  its  supply  from  Sandy  Run,  Flenners  Run,  and  Croyle 
Run,  the  principal  source  being  Sandy  Run  on  which  there  is  a 
13,000,000  gallon  impounding  reservoir.  The  watersheds  are 
wooded,  but  there  are  about  twenty  families  residing  thereon.  A  num- 
ber of  mines  in  and  near  the  borough  contribute  a  considerable 
quantity  of  acid  mine  drainage  fo  the  stream.  The  population  not 
served  by  sewers  use  about  forty  cesspools  and  634  privies. 


205 
14 


During  July  of  1910  there  was  an  outbreak  of  typhoid  fever  in 
South  Fork  due  to  a  case  of  typhoid  fever  on  the  watershed  of  the 
local  suppdy  and  in  handling  the  local  situation  from  a  sanitary 
standpoint,  it  appeared  to  ho  essential  to  lav  some  additional  sewers. 
These  were  permitted  in  a  decree  issued  by  the  Commissioner  of 
Health  to  the  borough  on  August  4.  1910.  The  plans  for  a  compre- 
hensive sanitary  sower  sy ton)  and  for  sewage  disposal  works  were 
arte,]  upon  in  a  decree  issued  in  March  1912.  In  this  decree  the  follow- 
ing statement  was  made: 

"The   consulting   engineer   has   shown    sufficiently    in   detail    the   salient    outlines 

of  the  plans  ami  since  it  is  not  contemplated  to  erect  the  works  at  once,  it  is 
his  opinion  that  advancements  in  the  art  of  treatment  of  Bewage  may  develop 
which   efficiency   and    economy   will   dictate  should   he   incorporated   in    the  designs   at 

tin'  time  of  the  erection  of  the  sewage  disposal  works.  The  plans  show  a  thoroughly 
studied  and  well  conceived  layout  and  arc  adapted  to  such  modifications  as  may 
be  found  desirable  and  there  appears  to  lie  no  good  reason  why  the  State  should  not 
approve  of  these  genera]  plans  and  in  the  future  at  the  time  it  becomes  necessary 
to  erect  the  sewage  works  to  then  call  for  such  further  details  and  modifications 
of  the  layout  as  may  be  deemed  necessary  to  assure  efficiency  and  economy  then." 

East  Conemaugh,  Cambria  County,  population  4,050  is  a  borough 
situated  on  the  north  side  of  the  Little  Conemaugh,  opposite  Frank- 
lin borough  and  about  three  miles  above  Johnstown.  The  inhabit- 
ants almost  entirely  are  employed  at  the  large  plant  of  the  Cambria 
Steel  Company  at  Franklin  across  the  river  and  on  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad.  Nearly  half  of  the  population  obtain  their  water 
supply  from  dug  and  drilled  wells  and  springs,  the  greater  portion 
being  served  by  the  Conemaugh  &  Franklin  Water  Company.  Thii 
company  derives  its  supply  from  an  impounding  reservoir  on  Clap- 
board Bun,  a  tributary  entering  the  river  at  Franklin  opposite  East 
Conemaugh.  The  watershed  has  a  resident  population  of  ITS  persons 
beside  several  hundred  head  of  live  stock.  An  outbreak  of  typhoid 
in  Conemaugh  and  Franklin  in  August.  1007  resulted  in  an  investi- 
gation by  the  Department  which  indicated  that  the  probable  source 
of  the  outbreak  was  a  case  of  typhoid  which  occurred  about  the 
middle  of  July  on  the  watershed  above  the  reservoir.  Since  that 
time  precautions  have  been  taken  by  the  water  company  to  prevent 
pollutions,  The  borough  has  an  extensive  system  of  combined 
sewers  discharging  by  way  of  a  four  foot  brick  sewer  outlet  and  an 
open  ditch  into  the  river  at  the  lower  end  of  the  town,  the  ditch 
also  receiving  the  discharge  from  several  small  sewers.  Privies  are 
in  general  use.  although  a  large  number  of  these  are  reported  to  be 
connected  with  the  sewer  system.  Kitchen  waste,  garbage,  and 
some  times  sewage  find  their  way  to  the  highways  and  menace  the 
purity  of  many  of  the  wells  and  springs  in  use. 

Franklin.  Cambria  County,  population  1,500,  is  a  borough  sit- 
uated on  the  south  side  of  the  Conemaugh  Piver  opposite  the  bor- 
ough of  Fast  Conemaugh  and  adjoining  the  eastern  boundary  of  the 
city  of  Johnstown.     The  sole  industry  of  Franklin  is  a  plant  of 

206 


the  Cambria  Stool  Company  employing  4,000  men,  mainly  resident  in 
Franklin,  East  Conemaugh,  arid  Johnstown.  Nearly  half  of  the 
population  is  supplied  by  the  Conemaugh  &  Franklin  Water  Com- 
pany with  surface  water  derived  from  Clapboard  Run,  which  source 
has  been  described  under  the  discussion  of  the  borough  of  East  Cone- 
maugh. The  remainder  use  water  from  dug  and  drilled  wells  and  a 
number  of  springs,  each  well  and  spring  serving  ;i  group  of  families. 
The  borough  has  a  system  of  combined  sewers  covering  a  large 
portion  of  the  settled  area  with  three  outlets  to  Clapboard  Run  and 
three  to  the  Little  Conemaugh  River.  There  are  no  cesspools  and 
very  few  inside  closets  and  about  two-thirds  of  the  privies  are  con- 
nected with  the  public  sewers.  Kitchen  waste  is  largely  discharged 
into  the  gutters  and  open  ditches,  while  garbage  is  dumped  near 
Silver  Run  at  a  point  about  half  a  mile  above  the  borough  line.  The 
waste  from  the  steel  works  is  water  carrying  more  or  less  oil  but 
no  acid. 

In  Table  XL VI  is  given  the  list  of  typhoid  cases  reported  by 
the  local  authorities  of  the  towns  in  the  Little  Conemaugh  River 
sub-basin  to  the  State  Department  of  Health  for  the  years  1906-1912 
inclusive. 

TABLE  XLVI. 

Typhoid  Fever  Cases  Reported  for  the  Little  Conemaugh  River  Sub-Basin, 
1906—1912,  inclusive. 


Cresson 

Portage 

Snmmerhill,     

Ebensburg 

Lilly 

South    Fork,     

East    Conemaugh, 
Frauklin,     


1906. 

1907. 

1908. 

1909. 

1910. 

1911. 

2 

11 

5 

2 

2 

2 

0 

0 

2 

0 

7 

13  1 

0 

0 

3 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1 

0 

6 

0 

0 

0 

1 

3 

1 

23 

23 

29 

21 

54 

10 

0 

0 

40 

6 

1 

8 

2 

28 

4 

3 

9 

5 

In  this  sub-basin  some  of  the  suitable  streams  have  been  stocked 
by  the  State  Fish  Commission  with  trout  and  yellow  perch. 

The  Cambria  Steel  Company  has  an  intake  dam  on  the  Little 
Conemaugh  River  at  South  Fork.  Samptles  of  water  here  have  been 
chemically  analyzed  by  the  company.  The  results  are  given  in 
Table  XLVI  I.  The  same  company  has  also  analyzed  samples  of 
water  taken  from  the  Little  Conemaugh  in  Franklin  Borough.  The 
results  appear  in  Table  XL VIII. 


207 


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209 


lii  the  Little  Conemaugh  River  basin  above  Johnstown  (nere  is 
;i  total  of  ninety-six  coal  mines  from  twenty  two  of  which  the  drain- 
age  is  pumped  amounting  to  1.0,075  gallons  <»r  mine  drainage  a 
minute.  Prom  the  remaining  seventy-four  coal  mines  that  have 
natural  drainage  there  is  a  flow  of  10,4!H  gallons  a  minute  making 
a  total  quantity  of  mine  water  pollution  in  this  sub-basin  above 
Johnstown  of  20,569  gallons  a  minute. 

'/.  Survey  of  Stony  Creek  Sub-basin. 

In  the  sub-basin  of  Stony  Creek  arc  the  communities  of  Stoyestown 
Booversville,  Jennertown,  Jenner,  Boswell,  Benson,  Windber,  Paint, 
and  Scalp  Level. 

Stoyestown,  Somerset  County,  population  350,  is  a  borough  sit 
uated  in  the  northern  central  part  of  the  county  on  Stony  Creek.  It 
is  an  agricultural  community  with  no  industries  in  the  borough  al- 
though there  are  extensive  coal  operations  in  the  vicinity.  There 
are  four  small  Mater  power  developments  in  or  near  Stoyestown;  one 
on  Beaver  Dam  Bun,  two  on  Stony  Creek,  and  one  at  Kantner  on 
Stony  Creek  developing  30  H.  P.  The  inhabitants  of  the  borough 
are  largely  dependent  on  individual  wells  and  springs  for  their 
water  supply;  but  a  number  of  these  sources  have  become  polluted. 
The  Stoyestown  "Water  Company  was  incorporated  in  100G,  and  on 
May  2nd,  190G  the  Commissioner  of  Health  issued  a  permit  to  this 
company  to  supply  water  to  the  public  from  two  drilled 
wells.  The  borough  has  one  public  sewer  and  one  private  sewer, 
and  on  September  17th,  1006,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  issued  a 
permit  for  the  construction  of  two  other  public  sewers.  The  com- 
plete system  will  serve  the  greater  portion  of  the  population.  Privies 
to  the  number  of  seventy  have  been  in  use  and  there  are  about  fifty 
modern  water  closets,  some  of  which  have  been  discharging  sewage 
into  the  street  gutters.  Kitchen  wastes  have  been  discharged  either 
to  abandoned  wells  or  to  the  gutters.  The  borough's  sewage  reaches 
Beaver  Dam  Bun  just  before  it  enters  Stony  Creek,  and  the  former 
stream  also  receives  acid  drainage  from  coal  mines. 

In  the  permit  of  ]90(>.  the  Commissioner  of  Health  had  the  follow- 
ing to  say  about  sewerage: 

"The  borough  can  raise  seven  thousand  dollars  without  exceeding  the  debt  limit. 

The  proposed  sewers  will  cist  half  of  this  amount.  If  all  possible  connections  were 
made  mi  tin-  basis  of  one  hundred  gallons  per  capita,  the  system  would  discharge 
thirty-two  thousand  five  hundred  gallons  daily  into  the  run.  The  run  has  a 
drainage  area  of  about  three  hundred  acres  above  tin-  lower  or  Main  Street  Bewer 
outlet.  The  dry  weather  flow  of  the  stream  is  an  inconsiderable  amount.  Owing 
to  tin1  steepness  of  the  watershed,  during  rains,  the  bed  of  the  run  is  thoroughly 
washed  out.  Below  the  Main  Street  sewer  outlet  proposed,  the  slope  of  the  run 
is  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  in  fifteen  hundred  feet,  having  its  course  through 
pasture  Land  and  timber  land  to  Beaver  Dam  Run.  Cattle  drink  the  water.  The 
discharge  of  sewage  into  it  will  increase  the  pollution  and  render  the  water  un- 
suitable as  a  pasturage  stream. 

"Beaver  Darn  Run  is  an  acid  stream  to  some  extent,  because  it  receives  drainage 
from  at  feast  one  coal  mine.  Probably  the  acidity  of  this  stream  will  increase,  and 
as  coal  is  mined  from  the  bank  here,  this  acidity  may  be  considered  permanent. 
The  cost  of  extending  the  present  public  sewer  outlet  down  the  valley  of  Maurers 

210 


Run  to  the  proposed  Main  Street  outlet,  and  from  this  junction  continuing  down 
the  valley  to  Beaver  Dam  Jinn,  a  total  distance  of  aboul  twenty  five  hundred  feet, 
plus  the  cost  of  the  proposed  sewers,  is  well  within  the  amount  of  money  which 
the  borough  can  borrow.  Permission  to  discharge  sewage  from  this  main  interceptor 
into  Heaver  Dam  Run  would  obviate  suits  For  damages  which  very  probably  would 
be  brought  by  the  proprietors  whose  cattle  are  pastured  in  the  la-Ids  bordering 
Maurers  Run,  and  it  does  not  appear  that  a  temporary  discharge  at  this  point 
would  be  detrimental  to  the  interests  of  the  public  health.  So  far  as  the  Depart- 
ment of  Health  knows,  there  are  no  places  between  Stoyestown  and  the  city  of 
Johnstown  which  take  water  for  drinking  purposes  from  the  stream.  The  sewage 
of  this  city  is  discharged  into  the  river,  as  is  also  true  of  places  below  Johnstown. 
The  waters  are  very  acid  and  dirty  and  cannot  be  suitable  for  domestic  purp 
without  placing  prohibitions  on  the  industries  in  the  territory  which  prohibitions 
are  not  known  to  be  practical  at  this  time,  although  they  may  be  in  the  near 
future. 

"Beaver  Dam  Run  at  its  junction  with  Maurers  Run  has  a  drainage  area  of 
twenty-five  square  miles  so  that  the  dry  weather  flow  is  sufficient  to  prevent  a 
nuisance.  About  one  thousand  feet  below  this  junction  Beaver  Dam  Run  enters 
Stony  Creek  which  has  a  drainage  area  at  this  point  of  approximately -one  hundred 
and  ten  square  miles.  For  these  reasons  and  the  fact  that  the  borough  cannot  raise 
money  enough  to  build  a  properly  designed  sewage  treatment  plant  at  this  time, 
and  because  sewers  are  needed  in  the  borough  and  Maurers  Run  should  be  pre- 
served as  a  pure  stream,  it  is  unanimously  agreed  that  the  interests  of  the  public 
health  demand  that  temporary  permission  be  granted  the  borough  to  discharge  its 
sewage  into  Beaver  Dam  Run,  and  that  a  public  sewer  be  built  in  Main  Street 
and  in  South  Alley  as  proposed  under  the  following  conditions." 

Hooversville,  Somerset  County,  population  950,  is  a  borough  sit- 
uated on  Stony  Creek  about  five  miles  below  Stoyestown.  It  is  a  min- 
ing town  with  important  operations  in  and  near  the  borough  belonging 
to  the  Federal  Coal  Company,  the  Knickerbocker  Smokeless  Coal 
Company,  and  the  Somerset  Mining  Company.  There  is  no  public 
water  system,  the  inhabitants  deriving  their  supply  from  drilled  and 
dug  wells  and  springs.  The  Hooversville  Water  Company  is  now 
erecting  a  water  works  system  with  a  supply  from  Fallen  Timber  Run' 
by  way  of  a  new  storage  reservoir.  There  are  two  public  sewers,  one 
for  surface  water  only,  the  other  a  combined  sewer  with  sanitary 
connections,  both  discharging  into  Stony  Creek,  beside  which  there 
are  a  number  of  private  sewers  with  outlets  to  Stony  Creek,  Fallen 
Timber  Eun,  and  Dixie  Run.  Nearly  all  of  the  houses  have  privies 
and  a  few  have  cesspools  for  kitchen  waste,  but  waste  water  from  the 
houses  is  largely  discharged  to  the  highways  or  streams  and  a  num- 
ber of  the  privies  overhang  the  creek  or  runs.  The  mines  discharge 
considerable  acid  water  into  the  stream. 

Jennertown,  Somerset  County,  population  about  100,  is  a  rural 
community  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  county  on  Hays  or 
Pickings  Run  near  its  junction  with  Quemahoning  Creek,  a  tributary 
of  Stony  Creek.  The  borough  has  no  industries.  Water  for 
domestic  use  is  derived  entirely  from  drilled  and  dug  wells,  there 
being  no  public  water  system.  As  there  are  no  sanitary  sewers,  the 
population  depend  upon  privies,  which,  however,  are  well  kept  and 
there  is  consequently,  very  little  pollution  of  the  stream  at  this 
point. 

Jenner,  Jenner  Township,  Somerset  County,  population  about 
800,  is  a  village  almost  entirely  owned  by  the  Somerset  Coal  Com- 
pany, 500  employees,  which  lias  mining  operations  near  by.  It  is 
situated  on  Quemahoning  Creek  about  a  mile  and  a  half  east  of 
Jennertown   Borough.     Water   for    domestic   purposes   is   obtained 

211 


from  three  springs  and  one  drilled  well.  For  industrial  purposes  the 
Somerset  Coal  Company  derives  a  supply  from  Quemahoning  Creek, 
which  is  pumped  to  two  tanks  with  a  capacity  of  100,000  gallons. 
There  is  one  sewer  with  five  connections  discharging  into  Quemahon- 
ing ('reek  and  a  number  of  open  ditches  receive  kitchen  waste.  The 
privies,  which  are  in  general  use,  are  dug  in  soil  of  a  percolating 
nature,  hut  one  overflows  to  a  highway. 

Boswell,  Somerset  County,  population  1,200,  is  a  borough  situated 
on  Quemahoning  Creek  about  nine  miles  and  a  half  from  its  con- 
tinence with  Stony  Creel;  and  about  three  miles  east  of  Jennertown 
borough.  It  is  a  mining  town  dependent  entirely  upon  the  opera- 
tions of  the  Merchants  Coal  Company  which  owns  much  of  the  bor- 
ough property.  This  company  also  operates  a  piublic  water  supply 
system  under  the  name  of  the  .Tenner  Water  Company  whose  supply 
is  derived  from  a  300  foot  drilled  well.  Only  a  portion  of  the  public 
is  served,  the  remainder  getting  water  from  other  wells.  There  is 
an  extensive  sewer  system  built  and  owned  by  the  Boswell  Land  Im- 
provement Company  with  a  twenty-four  inch  outlet  to  Quemahoning 
Creek  by  way  of  a  railroad  culvert.  Several  other  private  sewers 
discharge  directly  or  indirectly  through  the  same  culvert;  one  of 
them  a  ten  inch  sewer  belonging  to  the  Merchants  Coal  Company 
discharges  into  a  street  gutter  and  thence  by  open  ditch  some  dis- 
tance to  the  culvert.  Comparatively  few  houses  have  sewer  connec- 
tion, privies  being  commonly  used.  Street  gutters  and  open  ditches 
receive  kitchen  waste  generally  and  in  many  cases  an  overflow  from 
privies. 

Benson,  Somerset  County  (Hollsopple  P.  0.),  population  500,  is 
a  borough  situated  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county  on  Stony 
Creek.  It  is  a  mining  town  with  operations  near  by  of  the  Hawes 
Coal  Company  with  about  100  employees  and  the  Althous  Coal 
Company  employing  about  fifty  persons,  beside  which  there  are  the 
Johnstown  Vehicle  Manufacturing  Company  with  about  eight  em- 
ployees, a  planing  mill,  and  a  slaughter  house.  Water  for  domestic 
use  is  derived  partly  from  a  number  of  springs  but  largely  from  dug 
wells,  there  being  no  public  water  supply  system.  The  borough  has 
no  public  sewers,  but  there  are  a  few  private  sewers  discharging 
into  an  old  mill  race  or  to  the  creek.  Privies  are  in  use,  in  some 
instances  overhanging  the  mill  race  or  creek  or  discharging  on  the 
banks  thereof. 

Wind  her,  Somerset  County,  population  5,000  or  more,  is  a  borough 
situated  on  Paint  Creek  near  the  Cambria  County  boundary.  Ad- 
joining Windber  on  the  northwest  is  the  borough  of  Paint,  Somerset 
County,  and  beyond  that  the  borough  of  Scalp  Level,  Cambria 
County.  These  three  towns  are  practically  one  community.  Wind- 
ber is  industrially  dependent  upon  the  Berwind- White  Coal  Com- 
pany, whose  operations  in  its  immediate  vicinity  are  very  extensive. 

212 


There  are  also  several  small  industries  including  a  brick  yard,  and 
a  planing  mill.  Aside  from  about  twelve  private  wells  the  inhabit- 
ants obtain  water  from  the  Paint  Township  Water  Company  which 
is  subsidiary  to  Hie  Windber  Water  &  Power  Company.  The  water 
supplied  to  Windber  and  to  the  borough  of  Paint  is  derived  from 
two  dams  on  Pig  Paint  Creek  having  seventeen  square  miles  of 
wooded  and  practically  uninhabited  watershed.  The  borough  has 
a  general  system  of  combined  sewers  which  are  said  to  be  inadequate 
in  size  in  some  instances.  A  large  number  of  privies  are  connected 
therewith,  but  others  frequently  overflow  into  the  highways  which 
also  receive  much  kitchen  waste.  The  coal  workings  discharge  great 
quantities  of  acid  drainage  into  Paint  Creek  in  and  near  the  bor- 
ough. 

Paint,  Somerset  County,  population  600,  is  a  borough  adjoining 
the  northern  or  Cambria  County  boundary  and  adjacent  to  the  bor- 
ough of  Windber  on  the  southeast  and  Scalp  Level,  Cambria  County, 
on  the  north.  Tt  is  situated  on  Paint  Creek  just  below  Windber.  It 
is  dependent  in  part  upon  the  operations  of  the  Berwind-White  Coal 
Company  which  has  a  mine  within  the  borough  limits.  The  Paint 
Township  Water  Company,  subsidiary  to  the  Windber  Water  & 
Power  Company  supplies  the  public  with  water  from  a  wooded 
watershed  on  Paint  Creek,  this  supply  also  being  furnished  to  the 
borough  of  Windber.  Beside  this  supply  there  are  about  five  private 
wells  in  use.  There  are  a  number  of  private  sewers  and  practically 
all  of  the  population  contribute  sewage  pollution. 

Scalp  Level,  Cambria  County,  population  about  1000,  is  situated 
on  the  southern  boundary  of  Cambria  County  on  Little  Paint  Creek 
at  its  junction  with  Paint  Creek  and  just  below  the  boroughs  of 
Paint,  and  Windber  which  places  are  on  the  latter  stream.  It  was 
formerly  a  farming  village  but  it  is  now  a  thriving  town  dependent 
largely  upon  coal  mining  operations  of  the  Berwind-White  Coal 
Company.  Water  is  supplied  to  the  public  by  the  Bichland  Town- 
ship Water  Co.  operated  by  the  Windber  Water  &  PoWer  Company 
the  supply  being  obtained  from  a  point  on  Little  Paint  Creek  about 
two  miles  above  the  borough.  The  watershed  above  the  intake  con- 
tains several  coal  mining  operations  and  the  village  of  Elton  with  a 
population  of  about  250.  In  addition  to  this  supply  there  are  in 
use  seven  or  more  private  dug  wells.  There  are  between  fifteen  and 
twenty  private  drains  to  the  creek  and  one  public  sewer  has  been 
constructed  in  accordance  with  a  permit  issued  by  the  Commissioner 
of  Health.  Both  Paint  Creek  and  Little  Paint  Creek  are  heavily 
charged  with  acid  water  from  coal  mines.  In  a  permit  of  May 
18th,  1908,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  had  the  following  to  say 
about  sewerage. 

"The  sewers  now  proposed  and  under  consideration  will  serve  that  portion  of  the 
old  villasre  above  described.  A  sixteen  inch  main  sewer  is  to  start  at  Little  Paint 
Creek  and  extend  up  the  turnpike  a  distance  of  900  feet  to  or  near  the  angle  in  the 

213 


turnpike.  One  hundred  and  fifty  feet  from  the  end  a  twelve-inch  branch  sewer 
is  to  be  laid  in  a  branch  road  westerly  a  distance  of  750  fen,  passing  the  school 
house  for  which  sewerag<  facilities  arc  demanded.  The  least  grade  for  the  sewers 
is  3.4  per  cent,  and  the  greatest  9.25  per  cent. 

"The  main  creek  is  about  700  feet  down  stream  from  the  proposed  outlet  where, 
at  one  time,  ir  was  contemplated  the  sewer  would  terminate.  Owing  to  the  very 
limited  financial  resources,   the  local  authorities  do  not  want   to  make  any  greater 

expenditure  than  may  be  ICSSary ;   heme  approval  of  the  outlet    into  the  tributary 

stream  where  tin'  turnpike  misses  is  asked.  Presumably  the  discharge  of  sewage 
would  be  of  such  small  volume  for  the  present  that  no  nuisance  will  be  created 
:,t  the  outlet.  There  are  shoals  on  cither  bank  of  the  stream  at  the  bridge.  The 
bed  of  the  creek  is  steep  and  the  flow  of  water  rapid.  Any  small  pool  could  easily 
be  drained. 

"There  is  one  means  of  saving  money  which  has  escaped  the  borough.  An  eight 
inch  pipe  on  the  grades  proposed  would  be  many  times  greater  in  capacity  than 
actually  necessary  to  remove  sewage  from  the  proposed  district.  The  local  authori- 
ties can 'with  perfect  safety  save  the  cost  between  an  eight-inch  sewer  and  a 
twelve    and  sixteen-inch  sewer. 

'•There  are  periods  of  several  weeks  duration  in  the  year  when  the  run-off 
from  the  upland  watersheds  is  so  great  that  the  germicidal  effect  of  the  acid  water 
is  probably  neutralized,  and  at  such  times  the  sewage  from  the  mining  town  may 
reach  the  water  works  intakes  of  the  down  stream  towns.  The  waters  of  the  region  are 
discharged  by  the  Conemaugh  River  into  the  Kiskiminetas  River,  and  through  the 
latter  into  the  Allegheny  River  opposite  Freeport.  This  place  takes  its  water  from  the 
river  and  below  Freeport,  in  a  distance  of  twenty-three  miles,  there  are  nine 
other  places  which  take  the  public  water  supply  from  the  Allegheny.  Twenty  miles 
and  thirty  six  miles,  respectively,  below  Johnstown  the  boroughs  of  Blairsville  and 
Saltsburg  obtain  their  public  supply  from  the  river.  The  sewage  of  Johnstown  is 
now  discharged  into  the  Conemaugh  and  is  a  menace  because  it  may  be  transmitted 
down  the  river  and  be  introduced  into  the  homes  of  water  consumers.  Because 
an  epidemic  has  not  occurred  from  this  cause  is  not  a  guarantee  that  it  may  not 
happen.  The  danger  exists.  It  is  probable  that,  within  the  period  for  which  it 
is  economical  to  design  sewers,  a  change  in  the  methods  of  disposal  of  sewage  in  its 
raw  state  in   the  streams,    may  be  brought  about  in   the  Conemaugh   River    Basin. 

"Scalp  Level  borough  is  amply  able  to  defray  the  cost  of  the  preparation  of  a 
sewerage  plan,  either  independently  or  in  conjunction  with  the  boroughs  of  Paint 
and  Windber." 

Iii  a  permit  of  May  28th,  190S  in  a  further  discussion  of  the 
sewerage  situation  of  Scalp  Level  the  following  statements  were 
made  by  the  Commissioner  of  Health. 

"The  new  outlet  is  an  obscure  place  away  from  dwellings.  The  plan  is  to 
excavate  a  trench  in  the  bottom  of  the  channel  and  to  imbed  the  sixteen-inch  sewer 
in  a  cradle  of  concrete  and  to  cover  it  over  with  the  same  material.  This  form  of 
construction  is  expensive  and  unless  it  be  executed  with  great  care  it  will  not  be 
durable.  The  creek  is  a  mountain  stream  subject  to  tremendous  freshet  flows  and 
scouring  currents.  In  the  said  permit  of  May  eighteenth,  the  borough's  attention 
was  especially  called  to  the  safety  and  economy  of  reducing  the  size  of  the  main 
sewer.  The  wisdom  of  a  reduction  in  size  is  npw  more  apparent  than  ever  if  the 
proposed  plan  to  lay  a  sewer  down  the  creek  bed  be  carried  out.  The  land  on  the 
north  bank  rises  precipitously  and  there  is  no  opportunity  favorable  for  the  building 
of  a  sewer  in  this  bank  from  the  turnpike  down  stream  when  such  sewer  must 
be  begun  at  a  level  at  the  turnpike  deep  enough  to  drain  the  cellars  along  the 
highway.  The  petitioners  represent  that  they  have  given  careful  consideration  to 
the  project  of  avoiding  the  construction  of  a  sewer  in  the  creek  bed  with  the  con- 
clusion that  there  is  no  other  location.  An  eight-inch  sewer  should  be  large  enough 
for  all  requirements,  and  certain  it  is  that  a  ten-inch  pipe  would  never  have  its 
capacity  taxed  and  since  the  cost  of  the  laying  of  a  ten-inch  pipe  in  the  bed  of  the 
creek  would  be  very  much  less  than  the  cost  of  laying  a  sixteen-inch  pipe,  this 
change  in  the  plan  ought  to  be  adopted  by  the  borough.  Furthermore,  it  has  been 
proven  by  experience  that  for  small  pipes  it  is  cheaper  and  better  where  they 
must  be  laid  in  the  bed  of  a  mountain  stream  to  use  cast  iron  pipe  instead  of 
clay  pipe.  All  things  considered,  it  is  cheaper  and  better  to  adopt  this  form  of 
construction. 

"The  petitioners  further  represent  that  there  is  a  fall  in  the  bed  of  the  creek 
where  it  is  proposed  to  terminate  the  sewer  so  that  the  outlet  will  be  elevated  many 
feet  above  the  valley  of  Big  Paint  Creek  in  which  a  trunk  sewer  for  the  ad- 
joining boroughs  of  Paint  and  Windber  may  be  laid  and  into  which  it  may  be  de- 
sirable and  easily  possible  at  some  future  date  for  the  proposed  Scalp  Level  sewer 
to  empty." 

The  Fish  Commission  has  stocked  some  of  the  suitable  streams  in 
the  sub-basin  of  Stony  Creek  with  trout. 

214 


On  Stony  Creek  the  Cambria  Steel  Company  maintains  an  Intake 
dam  from  which  water  is  derived  for  industrial  purposes.  This  com- 
pany has  chemically  analyzed  Stony  Creek  waters  and  in  Tabic  XLIX 
the  results  are  given : 

TABLE  XLIX. 

Chemical  Analyses  of  Stony  Creek  by  the  Cambria  Sled  Company. 
Parts  per  Million. 


Iron   and   alumina, 

SO., 

Lime,      

Magnesia 

Silica 

Free  Acid 

Chlorine 

Total    Solids 


Oct.  22, 
1899. 

April  6, 
1904. 

1.0 
5.6 
2.0 
Trace. 

July  28, 
1904. 

Nov.  19, 
1904. 

Dec.  ::, 

1904. 

7.0 
35.3 
31.8 

7.2 
20.2 

Dec.  21, 
1904. 

Trace. 

55.6 
47!  2 
24.2 

7.6 
12.4 
23. 6 

9.4 

4.6 
14.8 

4.0 
69.6 

2.4 
22.3 
28.2 
9.4 
3.4 

9.0 
46.4 
34.8 
10.9 
17.2 

2.8 
91.6 

5.2 
107.0 

4.6 

IIS.  2 

8.9 

Jan.  14, 
1905. 


30.6 
7.9 
21.1 
None. 

3.6 
116.0 


Iron  and   alumina. 

S03 

Lime 

Magnesia,      

Silica,     

Free   Acid,    

Chlorine 

Total   Solids,    


Jan.  24, 

Feb.  13, 

19C6. 

1905. 

4.2 

4.0 

17.8 

27.0 

20.2 

12.4 

6.0 

21.6 

10.2 

6.5 

None. 

None. 

1.1 

1.3 

65.0 

75.6 

Feb.  24, 
1905. 


4.8 
31.4 
11.3 
9.4 
7.0 


Mar.  24, 

Apr.  10, 

1905. 

1905. 

12.4 

51.  S 

18.2 

16.8 

8.5 

10.5 

S.9 

17.8 

10.6 

87.8 

1.8 

None. 

56.2 

201.2 

Apr.  24, 
1905. 


4.8 
23.0 
12.3 
3.6 
5.8 


May  2t4, 
1905. 

June  10, 
1905. 

June  24, 
1905. 

July  24, 
1905. 

Aug.  24, 
1905. 

Sept.  29, 
1909. 

so.     

4.5 
13.4 
7.4 
2.0 
2.2 
None. 

51. S 

20.0 

17.9 

9.8 

8.1 

100.0 

None. 

199.2 

4.1 
20.6 
14.2 

7.2 
20.4 

1.0 

82. S 

11.6 
14.3 
9.2 
4.9 
31.9 
None. 

S6.6 

23.4 
21.6 
18.8 
26.6 
3S.0 
3.3 

20.0 

90.0 

3S.0 

14.1 

Silica       

22.0 

9.0 

19.4 

Total     Solids       

154.0 

206.4 

MgSOi                             

43.2 

92.3 

In  the  Stony  Creek  sub-basin  there  are  eighty  coal  mines.  From 
eighteen  of  these  the  mine  drainage  is  pumped  amounting  to  10,445 
gallons  a  minute.  From  the  remaining  sixty-two  mines  the  drainage 
flows  by  gravity  amounting  to  14,320  gallons  making  a  total  of  24,- 
765  gallons  a  minute  being  discharged  into  the  waters  of  the  State 
in  the  Stony  Creek  sub-basin. 

In  the  first  part  of  the  year  1908  there  was  a  typhoid  fever  epi- 
demic at  Boswell.  In  Table  L  are  given  the  typhoid  fever  cases  that 
have  been  reported  by  the  local  authorities  of  the  towns  in  the 
Stony  Creek  sub-basin  to  the  Department  of  Health  for  the  years 
1006  to  1912  inclusive. 


215 


TABLE  L. 

Typhoid  Fever  Cases  Reported  for  the  Stony  Creek  Sub-Basin,  1906—1912,  inclusive. 


Scalp    Level, 
Stoycstown, 

B(  .-w « - 11 

Wlndber.      ... 

Bouson,      

Hoovcrsvillc, 


1906. 

1907. 

1908. 

1909. 

1910. 

1911. 

0 

0 

5 

0 

0 

1 

0 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

119 

12 

9 

3 

0 

0 

0 

6 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

7 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

5. — Survey  of  Black  Lick  Creek  Sub-basin. 

In  the  sub-basin  of  Black  Lick  Creek  are  the  following  communi- 
ties: Nant-y-Glo,  Big  Bend,  Twin  Rocks,  Vintondale,  Wehrum, 
Armagh,  Mechanicsburg,  Josephine,  Indiana,  Homer  City,  Graceton, 
and  Coral. 

Nant-y-Glo,  Cambria  County,  population  1,400,  is  an  unincor- 
porated village  on  Black  Lick  Creek  about  seven  miles  below  and 
east  of  its  head  waters  near  Ebensburg.  It  is  a  coal  mining  town 
with  five  principal  operating  companies:  the  Nant-y-Glo  Coal  Com- 
pany with  ninety  employees  producing  from  300  to  400  tons  daily, 
the  Pennsylvania,  Beech  Creek  and  Eastern  Coal  Company  produc- 
ing 500  or  more  tons  daily,  the  Ivy  Hill  Coal  Company  with  90  em- 
ployees producing  300  tons  daily,  and  near  the  village  the  Lincoln 
Coal  Company  producing  probably  300  tons  and  a  new,  large  mine 
of  the  Springfield  Coal  and  Coke  Company.  About  a  mile  up-stream 
from  the  village  is  a  small  chemical  plant  for  the  manufacture  of 
wood  alcohol.  Black  Lick  Creek  divides  the  town  into  two  parts.  In 
the  portion  northwest  of  the  creek,  water  is  piped  to  six  families 
from  a  spring  and  small  reservoir  reasonably  well  protected,  and  to 
four  families  from  another  spring.  Twenty -four  families  derive 
water  from  four  running  spouts  piped  from  a  third  spring.  The 
three  springs  are  reasonable  free  from  chance  pollution.  On  the 
southwest  side  of  the  creek  the  inhabitants  get  their  supply  from  fif- 
teen wells,  several  of  which  are  dug,  and  from  five  or  more  open 
springs  which  in  some  cases  are  subject  to  considerable  surface  pol- 
lution. On  August  15th,  1908,  a  permit  was  issued  by  the  Commis- 
sioner of  Health  to  the  Nant-y-Glo  Water  Company,  not  a  corporation, 
to  supply  the  public  in  Nant-y-Glo  village  with  water  for  domestic 
purposes  and  fire  protection  deriving  its  supply  from  Davis  Run,  with 
an  uninhabited  watershed.  The  Pennsylvania,  Beech  Creek  and  East- 
ern Coal  Company  derive  a  boiler  supply  from  Schuman  Run  near  the 
village.  The  Nant-y-Glo  Coal  Company  use  the  less  sulphurous  mine 
drainage  in  their  boilers.  There  is  no  sewer  system  but  there  are  a 
few  private  sewers  to  Black  Lick  Creek.  Every  house  has  a  privy  and 
as  the  soil  is  hardpan,  many  of  the  vaults  overflow  to  alleys,  yards, 


216 


and  highways.  A  slaughter  house  projecting  over  the  stream  dis- 
charges wastes  which  at  times  are  extremely  offensive.  The  mines 
in  this  vicinity  discharge  large  quantities  of  acid  drainage  into  the 
creek.  The  chemical  works  above  the  village  pollutes  the  stream  to 
a  considerable  extent. 

Big  Bend  (or  Expedit)  Cambria  County,  population  700,  is  a  min- 
ing village  in  Black  Lick  Township  near  the  western  part  of  the 
boundary  of  the  county  on  the  south  branch  of  Black  Lick  Creek. 
It  is  a  mining  town  dependent  almost  entirely  upon  the  operations 
of  the  Commercial  Coal  Company  with  about  325  employees,  and 
the  Big  Bend  Coal  Company  with  about  200  employees.  Water  is 
supplied  to  the  public  by  the  Marie  Water  Company,  a  corporation 
deriving  its  supply  from  an  impounding  reservoir  on  Spring  Bun 
north  of  the  village.  The  watershed  above  the  reservoir  is  unin- 
habited partly  wooded  and  about  one  and  a  half  square  miles  in 
area.  This  supply  has  recently  been  augmented  by  the  construction 
of  the  Seldersville  Reservoir  with  a  capacity  of  25,000  gallons,  which 
is  supplied  by  springs  immediately  above  it  and  the  surface  drainage 
from  about  twenty  acres.  This  area  contains  a  dwelling  occupied  by 
two  persons.  The  Department  has  under  consideration  an  applica- 
tion filed  by  the  company  for  permission  to  use  this  additional  sup- 
ply. The  water  company  supplies  practically  all  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  village.  There  are  four  individual  private  sewers  discharging 
into  Coalpit  Run,  but  no  public  sewer  system.  Privies  are  in  general 
use,  principally  dug  in  rock  and  provided  with  overflows.  Both  the 
run  and  the  creek  are  polluted  by  kitchen  wastes  disposed  of  upon 
the  surface  of  the  ground  and  in  gutters  and  by  overflowing  privies, 
the  drainage  from  which  produces  extremely  unsanitary  conditions. 
It  is  estimated  that  probably  5,000,000  gallons  of  mine  drainage  are 
discharged  daily  into  the  creek  from  the  several  mines  around  Big 
Bend  and  the  creek  is  also  greatly  polluted  by  mine  drainage  from 
several  points  above. 

Twin  Rocks,  Cambria  County,  population  350,  is  a  mining  town 
practically  a  continuation  of  the  village  of  Big  Bend  described  above. 
Water  is  obtained  generally  from  two  springs,  one  of  which  is  liable 
to  contamination  from  surface  drainage.  There  are  no  sewers  nor 
cesspools  and  the  general  discharge  of  kitchen  waste,  and  garbage 
and  the  overflow  from  privy  vaults  to  the  ground  and  streets  produce 
an  unsanitary  condition  and  a  pollution  of  the  stream. 

Vintondale,  Cambria  County,  population  1,800,  is  a  borough  sit- 
uated at  the  junction  of  the  north  and  south  branches  of  Black  Lick 
Creek  near  the  western  boundary  of  the  county.  It  is  a  mining  town 
dependent  almost  exclusively  upon  the  operations  of  the  Vinton 
Colliery  Company  with  mines  and  150  coke  ovens  giving  employment 
to  about  900  persons.  Water  is  supplied  to  nearly  all  the  inhabitants 
by  the  Jackson  Water  Company,  whose  sources  of  supply  are  Bracken 

217 


Kun  and  Sehuman  Bun,  small  streams  with  about  fifteen  persons 
resident  on  the  watersheds.  In  times  of  extreme  drouth  this  supply- 
is  augmented  by  the  use  of  water  from  the  north  branch  of  Black 
Lick  Creek  obtained  through  the  Black  Lick  Water  Company.  The 
latter  company  pumps  aboul  500,000  gallons  of  water  daily  for  iudus- 
trial  purposes  at  the  colliery  and  coke  ovens  and  for  washing  all 
of  the  coal  that  is  used  for  coking.  A  few  dug  wells  and  a  spring 
are  used  to  some  extent  for  drinking  purposes,  the  latter  being  liable 
t<»  pollution.  About  a  dozen  families  have  inside  closets  aud  private 
sewers  to  the  creek,  but  privies  are  in  general  use  and  the  soil  being 
hardpan  there  is  considerable  overflow  resulting  in  extensive  pollu- 
tion to  the  ground,  highways,  and  creek. 

Wehrum,  Indiana  County,  population  900,  is  an  unincorporated 
village  situated  on  Black  Lick  ('reek  in  Bufliugton  Township  near  the 
eastern  boundary  of  the  county.  Industrially  the  (own  is  dependent 
upon  the  Lackawanna  Coal  and  Coke  Company,  employing  about  375 
men.  Water  is  supplied  to  the  public  by  the  Buffington  Water  Com- 
pany and  is  derived  from  Rummels  Kun,  a  rapid,  mountain  stream 
with  a  population  of  about  eighty  resident  on  the  watershed.  The 
entire  population  is  served  by  this  company.  There  is  one  twenty- 
four  inch  sewer  with  about  ten  connections  discharging  into  Black 
Lick  Creek,  this  being  the  only  sewer  in  the  village.  Privies  are  in 
general  use,  in  several  cases  overflowing,  aud  kitchen  waste  to  some 
extent  is  sewered  to  the  highways.  One  alley  in  particular  receives 
overflow  from  privies  and  kitchen  waste  and  is  used  as  a  general 
dumping  ground  for  refuse. 

Armagh,  Indiana  County,  population  130.  is  a  small,  rural  bor- 
ough situated  on  the  divide  between  Black  Lick  Creek,  and  the 
Conemaugh  Biver  about  two  miles  from  the  former  and  three  miles 
from  the  latter.  The  Kiskiminetas  Coal  Company  has  operations 
some  two  miles  from  the  borough.  There  is  no  public  water  system, 
the  inhabitants  deriving  their  supply  from  dug  wells.  There  are  no 
sewers  and  the  privies  which  are  universally  used  are  in  percolating 
soil.  Kitchen  waste  to  some  extent  reaches  Mardi's  Bun,  a  tributary 
of  Black  Lick  Creek,  which  also  receives  the  natural  drainage  of 
the  town. 

Mechanicsburg  (Brush  Valley  P.  O.)  Indiana  County,  population 
150,  a  small  rural  borough  with  no  industrial  plants,  is  an  inland 
town  near  the  head  waters  of  Brush  Creek,  a  tributary  of  Black  Lick 
Creek.  The  borough  is  without  a  public  water  system,  the  inhabitants 
deriving  their  supply  from  individual  dug  wells  and  three  drilled 
wells.  There  are  no  sewers  and  privies  are  used  universally,  gen- 
erally kept  in  fair  condition.  A  few  properties  drain  kitchen  waste 
to  the  highways. 

Josephine,  Burrell  Township,  Indiana  County,  population  about 
1,000.  is  an  industrial  village  recently  built  in  connection  with  the 

218 


extensive  blast  furnaces  of  the  Josephine  Furnace  and  Coke  Company 
on  Black  Lick  Creek  about  one  mile  east  of  its  junction  with  Two 
Lick  Creek.  There  are  two  water  companies,  both  controlled  by  the 
Furnace  Company  interests.  The  Josephine  Water  Company,  which 
supplies  water  for  domestic  purposes  throughout  the  town  derives 
its  supply  from  drilled  wells,  only  one  of  which  is  in  use,  the  several 
remaining  wells  being  available  for  future  demands.  The  Furnace 
Water  Company  supplies  Avater  to  the  Furnace  Company  for  boiler 
purposes  from  another  one  of  these  wells  and  for  cooling  purposes 
from  an  intake  in  Black  Lick  Creek  just  above  an  eight-foot  concrete 
dam.  The  Furnace  Water  Company  supplies  water  only  for  indus- 
trial purposes  and  there  is  reported  to  be  no  connection  between  the 
systems  of  the  two  companies.  About  fifteen  houses  on  the  west  side 
of  the  creek  opposite  the  main  part  of  the  village  have  shallow  privy 
vaults,  but  aside  from  these  and  the  office  buildings  of  the  company 
which  have  six-inch  sewers  to  Black  Lick  Creek,  the  houses  are  all 
connected  with  an  extensive  sewerage  system  having  a  single  outlet 
thirty  inches  in  diameter  discharging  into  Black  Lick  Creek  just 
below  the  village. 

Indiana,  Indiana  County,  population  about  7,000,  is  a  borough 
and  the  county  seat,  and  is  situated  near  the  head  waters  of  Stony 
Bun,  a  small  branch  of  Two  Lick  Creek,  the  latter  being  one  of  the 
principal  tributaries  of  Black  Lick  Creek.  The  town  has  a  few  in- 
dustries, including  the  Dugan  Glass  Company's  plant  employing 
about  200  hands,  two  foundries,  two  grist  mills,  a  car  factory, 
woolen  mills,  and  a  tannery,  but  it  is  mainly  dependent  on  extensive 
soft  coal  operations  in  the  vicinity.  The  rich  coal  deposits  in  this 
neighborhood  are  being  developed  on  a  large  scale  and  a  recent  rapid 
increase  in  population  is  likely  to  continue.  About  two-thirds  of  the 
population  are  supplied  with  water  by  the  Clymer  Water  Company 
which  derives  its  supply  from  Two  Lick  Creek  at  a  point  about  three 
miles  above  Burrell.  The  drainage  area  above  the  intake  is  about 
seventy-eight  square  miles  and  contains  several  mining  settlements, 
including  the  village  of  Clymer,  with  a  population  of  about  3,000  per- 
sons. On  May  28th,  1907,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  issued  a  per- 
mit to  the  Clymer  Water  Company  to  extend  and  improve  its  water 
works  system  by  the  construction  of  a  filter  plant,  reservoir,  etc., 
under  certain  conditions  and  stipulations.  The  filter  plant  was  con- 
structed, but  all  the  conditions  of  the  permit  were  not  carried  out 
and  the  operation  of  the  plant,  in  consequence,  has  as  yet  not 
been  highly  successful.  Private  wells  and  springs  throughout  the 
borough  supply  the  remaining  third  of  the  population  with  water  for 
domestic  purposes.  While  there  are  both  public  and  private  sewers 
in  the  town,  privies  abound  and  there  are  some  cesspools.  The  pub- 
lic sewers  are  built  in  accordance  with  a  comprehensive  plan  to  re- 
ceive sewage  and  roof  water  together  with  some  cellar  drainage  and 

219 


are  all  connected  with  and  discharge  through  a  single  eighteen  inch 
outlet  to  a  sewage  disposal  plant  on  the  bank  of  Stony  Run.  About 
seven  miles  and  a  hall'  of  sewers  are  connected  with  this  system. 
While  Spring  Knn  and  March  Run,  both  tributary  to  Stony  Run,  are 
largely  polluted  by  the  sewage  discharge  from  private  outlets  and 
the  manufactural  wastes,  especially  from  the  brewery,  woolen  mill, 
and  tannery.  In  view  of  the  former  extensive  pollution  of  Stony 
Run  and  particularly  the  loeal  nuisances  caused  thereby,  the 
Commissioner  of  Health  on  June  10th,  1007,  issued  a  decree  re- 
quiring the  preparation  of  revised  sewerage  plans  and  plans  for 
the  treatment  of  the  borough  sewage,  suggesting  that  the  borough  au- 
thorities provide  compulsory  connection  with  the  publis  sewer  system. 
On  September  3rd,  1907,  a  special  permit  was  granted  for  a  single 
sewer  extension,  pending  the  submittal  of  the  plans  previously  called 
for  and  on  May  28th,  1908,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  issued  a  permit 
approving  proposed  sewerage  plans  and  sewage  disposal  works.  The 
brewery,  woolen  mill  and  tannery  wastes  are  sufficiently  extensive  to 
create  a  decided  local  nuisance  in  Stony  Run  independent  of  the  sew- 
age pollution  which  has  heretofore  existed.  The  sewage  disposal 
works  consisting  of  settling  tanks,  sprinkling  filters  and  chemical 
disinfection  of  effluent  for  the  borough  of  Indiana,  were  constructed 
and  started  in  operation  by  May,  1011,  and  at  the  close  of  the  year 
1012,  substantially  the  entire  sewage  of  the  borough  was  being  treated 
at  the  plant. 

Homer  City,  Indiana  County,  population  1,200,  is  a  borough  sit- 
uated at  the  junction  of  Two  Lick  and  Yellow  Creeks  about  three 
miles  above  the  confluence  of  Two  Lick  and  Black  Lick  Creeks.  Its 
industries  include  the  Prairie  State  Incubator  Company,  employing 
eighty  persons,  the  Guthrie  Tuck  Manufacturing  Company's 
planing  mill  with  eight  men,  and  the  Nix  Gas  Engine  Company. 
There  are  also  large  coal  operations  near  by.  There  is  no  pjublic  wa- 
ter system,  the  inhabitants  obtaining  water  from  drilled  and  dug 
wells  and  springs.  There  is  no  sewerage  system,  nearly  every  house 
having  a  privy.  A  large  number  of  properties  discharge  kitchen 
waste  into  the  highways.  The  Prairie  State  Incubator  Company's 
plant  has  a  six-inch  sewer  discharging  sewage  from  the  plant  into 
Yellow  Creek. 

Graceton,  Indiana  County,  population  700,  is  situated  on  Two 
Lick  Creek  above  and  adjoining  Coral  village  which  in  turn  is  just 
above  the  junction  of  Two  Lick  and  Black  Lick  Creeks.  It  is  a 
village  dependent  upon  the  operations  of  the  Graceton  Coke  Company 
which  has  mines  and  202  coke  ovens.  The  coal  used  for  coking  is 
all  washed.  The  Graceton  Coke  Company  has  a  pirivate  water  sup- 
ply system  serving  their  plant  and  supplying  the  public  with  water 
for  domestic  purposes.  Water  is  derived  for  domestic  and  to  some 
extent  for  industrial  uses  from  mountain  springs,  but  the  supply  is 

220 


inadequate  and  is  reinforced  by  pumping  from  Two  Lick  Creek.  In 
addition  to  this  supply  there  are  eight  drilled  wells.  There  are  two 
private  sewers  in  the  town,  one  four  inches  in  diameter  and  serving 
the  store  and  office  building  of  the  company,  the  oilier  ten  inches  in 
diameter  and  serving  four  residences,  both  sewers  discharging  into 
a  small  run.  Each  house  has  a  privy  said  to  be  cleaned  out  annually, 
but  in  many  cases  frequently  overflowing.  Garbage  and  kitchen 
waste  are  discharged  indiscriminately  into  the  highways.  About 
8,000,000  gallons  of  water  daily  are  used  at  the  washery  in  prepar- 
ing coal  for  coking  and  a  large  amount  of  coal  in  susj>ension  is  thus 
carried  into  the  stream. 

Coral,  Indiana  County,  population  500,  is  a  village  situated  on 
Two  Lick  Creek  just  below  the  village  of  Graceton  and  just  above 
the  junction  of  Two  Lick  and  Black  Lick  Creeks.  The  town  is  in- 
dustrially dependent  entirely  upon  the  operations  of  the  Joseph 
Wharton  Coal  and  Coke  Company,  operating  a  large  mine  and  about 
300  coke  ovens.  Water  for  domestic  purposes  is  obtained  from  drilled 
wells  about  sixty  feet  deep.  The  company  has  a  private  supply  for 
industrial  purposes  derived  from  mountain  springs  with  three  reser- 
voirs, total  capacity  43,000,000  gallons,  located  on  high  ground  above 
the  village.  An  auxilliary  supply  is  obtained  from  Tulip  Creek  and 
large  quantities  of  water  are  used  from  this  source  for  washing  the 
coal  in  preparation  for  coking.  There  is  no  sewerage  system  and  but 
one  private  sewer.  This  serves  the  company's  office  and  store.  Out- 
side privies  are  in  general  use,  in  many  cases  overflowing  and  the 
highways  receive  much  kitchen  wastes  and  garbage. 

The  Fish  Commission  has  stocked  a  number  of  suitable  streams 
in  Indiana  County  within  the  Black  Lick  Creek  sub-basin  with  trout, 
bass,  yellow  perch,  and  pickerel.  The  Josephine  Furnace  and  Coke 
Company  has  analyzed  Black  Lick  Creek  water  at  Josephine  and 
also  the  driven  well  water.    In  Table  LI  the  results  are  given. 

TABLE  LI. 

Analyses   of   Black   Lick   Creek   Water   and   of   Well   Water   at   Josephine   by   the 

Josephine  Furnace  &  Coke  Company. 

Grains  per  U.   S.   Gallon. 


Determination. 


Silica 

Oxide  of  Iron   and  Alumina,    , 

Calcium     Sulphate,      

Magnesium    Sulphate,    

Magnesium    Chloride,     

Sodium    Chloride 

Volatile   and    Organic   Matter, 

Total     Solids 

Free    Sulphuric    Acid 

Magnesium    Carbonate 

Calcium    Carbonate,     

Sodium    Sulphate 


Black  Lick  Creek  Water. 


Sept.  25 
190$. 


.52 
.  1.63 
9.77 
3.99 
1.54 
.61 
1.17 
19.23 
3.01 


Jan.  26, 
1909. 


.52 

.47 

1.S5 

1.73 

.40 


.35 
5.49 


Drilled  Well  Water. 


Sept.  22 
190S. 


.93 
1.34 
1.33 


.96 

.47 

13.95 


1.9S 
3.91 
3.03 


.42 

29 

6.16 

.76 

11.66 

2.41 
1.62 

15 


221 


There  are  sixty-eight  coal  mini's  in  the  Black  Lick  Creek  sub-basin. 
Of  these  seventeen  have  the  mine  drainage  pumped  which  amounts  to 
6,465  gallons  a  minute.  The  remaining  fifty-one  mines  drain  by 
gravity  discharging  7,885  gallons  a  minute  making  a  total  of  14,350 
gallons  a  minute  of  mine  drainage  that  reaches  the  waters  of  the 
State  in  this  sub-basin.  In  Table  LI  I  are  given  the  typhoid  fever 
cases  reported  by  the  local  authorities  of  the  boroughs  in  the  Black 
Lick  Creek  sub-basiu  to  the  State  Department  of  Health  for  the  years 
1906  to  1912  inclusive. 

TABLE  LI  I. 

Typhoid  Fever  Cases  Reported  for  the  l'.l.uk  Lick  Creek  Sub-Basin, 
1906—1912,  inclusive. 


Vintondnlc,  . 
Nant-j  Glo,  . 
Homer  City, 
Indiana,      — 

Ch  hut 

Mechanicsburj 


1906. 

1907. 

1908. 

1909. 
3 

1910. 

1 
1911. 

1 

0 

0 

9 

2 

12 

10 

0 

0 

0 

0 

3 

0 

3 

0 

•1 

2 

0 

0 

5 

0 

7 

5 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1 

3 

(.. 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

6. — Survey  of  Loyalhanna  Creek  Sub-Basin. 

In  the  Loyalhanna  Creek  Sub-Basin  there  are  the  communities 
of  Ligonier,  Donegal,  Youngstown,  Latrobe,  and  New  Alexandria. 

Ligonier,  Westmoreland  County,  population  2,500,  is  a  borough 
situated  in  the  upper  part  of  the  Loyalhanna  Creek  watershed  at 
the  junction  of  Mill  and  Loyalhanna  Creeks.  There  are  no  manu- 
factories of  importance,  the  village  being  formerly  a  lumbering  town, 
but  of  late  years  a  farming  community  and  much  frequented  as  a 
summer  resort.  A  sanatorium  is  located  in  the  centre  of  the  borough. 
The  town  has  a  municipal  water  supply  derived  from  Furnace  Run, 
a  clear  mountain  stream  forming  one  of  the  headwaters  of  Loyal- 
hanna Creek,  and  about  three-quarters  of  the  population  are  served 
with  this  water,  the  consumption  being  estimated  at  60,000  gallons 
a  day.  Privies  abound  in  the  borough  and  there  are  a  few  cesspools. 
Sink  and  wash  water  is  usually  emptied  into  street  gutters  and  al- 
leys. On  July  3rd,  1000,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  issued  a 
permit  to  the  borough  for  the  construction  of  a  sanitary  system  of 
sewers  and  requiring  the  erection  of  a  sewage  disposal  ptlant  for  the 
purification  of  the  borough's  sewage.  Some  sewers  have  since  this 
been  constructed.  The  stream  at  this  point  is  heavily  polluted  with 
sewage  from  Ligonier  and  many  mining  settlements  above  the  bor- 
ough, especially  on  Mill  Creek  where  there  are  a  large  number  of 
mines  and  coke  ovens. 

Donegal,  Westmoreland  County,  population  160,  is  a  borough  sit- 
uated in  the  southeastern  part  of  Westmoreland  County  on  the  di- 


222 


vide  between  the  Allegheny  and  Monongahela  watersheds,  a  part  of 
its  drainage  reaching  the  Allegheny  by  way  of  Four  Mile  Run,  one 
of  the  principal  tributaries  of  Loyalhanna  Creek,  and  a  portion  flow- 
ing into  the  Youghiogheny  River  by  way  of  Indian  Creek.  It  is  a 
rural  community  without  industries  except  that  a  number  of  inhabit- 
ants are  employed  in  saw  mills  in  the  nearby  mountains.  There  is 
no  public  water  supply,  the  people  depending  upon  individual  sources, 
including  twenty -five  dug  wells,  one  drilled  well  and  eight  springs. 
There  are  no  sewers  and  the  privies  which  are  universally  used  ap- 
pear to  be  well  cared  for. 

Youngstown,  Westmoreland  County,  population  about  ,550,  is  a 
small  borough  situated  on  Nine  Mile  Run  about  one  mile  from  its 
point  of  discharge  into  Loyalhanna  Creek,  just  above  Latrobe.  It  is 
a  rural  community  without  industries,  but  there  are  extensive  coal 
and  coke  operations  in  the  surrounding  territory,  especially  above 
the  town  on  Nine  Mile  Run.  The  borough  has  no  water  system  and 
the  inhabitants  depend  upon  drilled  and  dug  wells.  There  are  no 
public  sewers  and  but  two  or  three  private  sewers  from  individual 
properties,  beside  a  few  drains  for  sink  water  discharging  into  the 
highways  or  runs.  Among  the  more  important  coke  operations  on 
Nine  Mile  Run  are  400  ovens  of  the  H.  C.  Frick  Coke  Company  at 
the  village  of  Baggaley  and  355  ovens  of  the  Hostetter-Connellsville 
Coke  Company  at  Hostetter  village.  In  consequence  of  these  exten- 
sive operations,  Nine  Mile  Run  contributes  to  Loyalhanna  Creek  large 
quantities  of  acid  mine  water. 

Latrobe,  Westmoreland  County,  population  about  10,000,  is  a 
borough  situated  near  the  central  part  of  the  county  on  Loyalhanna 
Creek.  It  is  the  centre  of  what  is  known  as  the  Latrobe  coke  field 
and  the  mining  and  coking  of  coal  is  carried  on  to  an  enormous  ex- 
tent in  its  immediate  vicinity,  this  forming  the  dominant  industry 
of  the  region.  Aside  from  these  operations  the  principal  industrial 
plant  in  the  borough  is  the  Latrobe  Tire  Department  of  the  Railway 
Steel  Spring  Company,  giving  employment  to  about  1,000  persons. 
Other  industries  in  or  near  the  borough  are  the  Pierce  Manufactur- 
ing Company's  woolen  mills,  employing  about  110,  the  Mississippi 
Glass  Company,  the  Peters  Paper  Company,  the  West  Latrobe 
Foundry  and  Machine  Company  with  about  50  employees,  and  two 
large  brick  yards,  that  of  the  Latrobe  Brick  Company  giving  employ- 
ment to  about  thirty  persons.  There  are  also  six  slaughter  houses  in 
the  borough.  Water  is  furnished  to  the  entire  community  by  the 
Latrobe  Water  Company,  a  corporation  deriving  its  supply  from 
Loyalhanna  Creek  at  Kingston,  a  short  distance  above  Latrobe.  The 
consumption  is  3,000,000  gallons  a  day,  half  of  which  is  used  for  in- 
dustrial purposes,  the  company  having  1,800  domestic  service  taps 
and  seven  industrial  taps.     The  watershed  above  the  company's  in- 


223 


take  is  lift}*  square  miles  in  extent  with  a  large  rural  and  industrial 
population  including  Donegal  and  Ligonier  Boroughs  and  a  great 
number  of  collieries  and  coke  ovens  especially  on  Mill  Creek  above 
Ligonier.  A  large  part  of  the  borough  is  served  by  combined  sewers, 
some  of  which  are  private,  but  all  laid  without  regard  to  any  pre- 
pared comprehensive  plan.  About  one-half  of  the  houses  have 
privies,  many  of  which  are  connected  with  private  sewers.  Garbage 
is  thrown  out  indiscriminately.  Loyalhanna  Creek  from  Latrobe  to 
its  junction  with  the  Conemaugh  at  Saltsburg  is  a  highly  polluted 
stream  and  ai  low  stages  the  water  is  almost  iuky  black.  This  is 
the  result  mainly  of  mine  drainage  and  water  used  at  the  coke  ovens, 
but  there  are  several  polluting  factors  in  the  vicinity  of  Latrobe, 
which,  but  for  the  wastes  from  the  coal  operations,  would  produce 
loeal  nuisances.  Even  under  present  conditions,  the  effect  of  these 
wastes  on  the  stream  is  clearly  visible  and  highly  offensive.  The 
washings  from  rags  and  waste  pulp  from  the  Peters  Paper  Company's 
plant  above  Latrobe  pollutes  the  water  and  produces  a  mass  of 
slime  and  ooze  in  the  creek  during  low  stages.  The  wastes  from  the 
slaughter  houses  are  extensive  and  particularly  offensive  being 
clearly  visible  in  the  stream.  At  the  Pierce  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany's plant  the  stream  is  evidently  polluted  with  dyes. 

New  Alexandria,  Westmoreland  County,  population  450,  is  a  bor- 
ough situated  on  Loyalhanna  Creek  about  ten  miles  from  its  mouth, 
industrially  dependent  upon  extensive  coal  and  coke  operations  in 
its  vicinity,  notably  at  Salem ville,  Crab-Tree,  and  Luxor.  There  is 
no  public  water  system.  The  inhabitants  depend  upon  drilled  and 
dug  wells  and  three  springs  for  water  for  domestic  use.  The  only 
sewerage  facilities  are  afforded  by  two  old  stone  drains,  formerly  in- 
tended for  surface  and  cellar  drains  only,  but  now  having  a  number 
of  kitchen  wastes  and  sanitary  connections.  Well  kept  privies  are 
in  general  use ;  but  owing  to  the  percolating  nature  of  the  soil  there 
appears  to  be  danger  of  contamination  of  some  of  the  wells. 

The  waters  of  the  streams  in  the  upper  portion  of  this  sub-basin 
beyond  the  coal  mining  operations  are  suitable  to  sustain  fish  life 
and  here  the  State  Fish  Commission  has  placed  trout,  bass,  and 
yellow  perch. 

There  are  fifty-nine  coal  mines  in  the  Loyalhanna  watershed. 
From  twenty-five  of  them  the  drainage  is  pumpied  amounting  to  22,- 
915  gallons  a  minute.  There  are  thirty-four  mines  that  drain  by 
gravity  yielding  3,575  gallons  a  minute,  making  a  total  of  26,490 
gallons  a  minute  of  acid  mine  drainage  discharged  into  the  streams 
of  the  State  within  this  basin. 

In  Table  LI II  are  given  the  typhoid  fever  cases  reported  by  the 
local  authorities  of  the  towns  in  this  sub-basin  to  the  State  Depart- 
ment of  Health  for  the  years  1906  to  1912,  inclusive: 


224 


TABLE  LIII. 

Typhoid   Fever  Oases  Reported  for  the  Loyalhanna   Creek   Sub-Basin,    1906—1912, 

inclusive. 


Town. 


Latrobe,     . . . 
Ligonier, 

Youngstown, 


190G. 

1907. 

1008. 

1909. 

1910. 

1911. 

87 

5!) 

110 

9 

44 

86 

2 

3 

2 

1 

4 

3 

0 

0 

0 

0 

2 

0 

7. — Survey  of  Conemaugh  River  Valley — Johnstown  to  Avonmore. 

Along  the  Conemaugh  River  from  Johnstown  to  Avonmore  are 
the  following  municipalities :  -Johnstown,  Ferndale,  Dale,  Daisytown, 
Westmont,  Rosedale,  Brownstown,  Seward,  New  Florence,  Garfield, 
Bolivar,  West  Bolivar,  Derry,  Cokeville,  Blairsville,  Black  Lick, 
Livermore,  Jacksonville,  Saltsburg,  and  Iselin. 

Johnstown,  Cambria  County,  population  about  60,000,  is  a  city 
situated  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  county  at  the  junction  of 
the  Little  Conemaugh  River  and  Stony  Creek,  which  here  unite  to 
form  the  Conemaugh  River.  Clustered  about  the  city  and  on  the 
streams  above  and  below  it  are  a  number  of  settlements  and  boroughs 
which,  with  the  city,  form  a  single  community.  It  is  a  thriving  man- 
ufactural  district  with  numerous  industrial  plants,  the  dominant 
industry  being  the  manufacture  of  iron  and  steel  and  the  mining  of 
coal.  The  three  plants  of  the  steel  works  are  practically  one  enterprise 
beginning  at  Franklin  and  extending  down  throughout  the  city,  giving 
employment  to  about  13,000  men.  The  company  formerly  operated  ore 
mines  near  the  city,  but  they  have  been  practically  worked  out  and  ore 
is  now  brought  in  from  outside.  Coal  is  extensively  mined  within  the 
city  limits,  chiefly  by  the  Cambria  Steel  Company.  The  Johnstown  Wa- 
ter Company  supplies  the  greater  part  of  the  public  in  the  city  and 
neighboring  boroughs  with  water  for  drinking  purposes  from  vari- 
ous sources,  including  Mill  Creek,  Balton  Run,  St.  Clair  Run,  Laurel 
Run,  Wildcat  Run,  and  Salt  Lick  Run,  the  intakes  averaging  about 
five  miles  in  distance  from  the  centre  of  Johnstown.  An  auxiliary 
supply  may  be  and  has  been  obtained  from  the  Manufacturers  Water 
Company  and  from  the  Cambria  Steel  Company,  two  industrial  sup- 
plies noted  below.  Balton  Run,  Mill  Creek,  and  St.  Clair  Run  yield 
the  greatest  part  of  this  supply.  All  the  watersheds  are  occupied 
to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  but  sanitary  inspections  by  the  Depart- 
ment and  the  water  company  and  the  enforced  abatement  of  many 
pollutions  give  assurance  of  a  reasonably  pure  supply.  The  emerg- 
ency supply  available  through  the  Manufacturers  Water  Company 


225 


is  taken  from  Stony  Greek  and  thai  through  the  Cambria  Steel  Com-, 
pany  from  Hinckston  Run,  both  of  which  supplies  are  polluted  to 
the  extent  of  rendering  them  unfit  for  domestic  use  unless  boiled 
or  otherwise  purified.  On  November  20th,  1908,  the  Commissioner 
of  Health  issued  a  permit  to  the  Johnstown  Water  Company  approv- 
ing the  sources  of  supply  of  the  company  including  a  proposed  sup- 
ply from  Bens  Creek.  The  Morrellville  and  Cambria  Water  Company 
supplies  about  3,000  consumers  with  water  from  Struyer  Run  and 
a  drilled  well.  The  Jerry  Alwine  private  supply  derived  from  two 
springs  is  used  by  150  persons  in  the  section  of  the  city  known  as 
Roxbury.  On  October  15,  1908,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  issued 
a  permit  to  Jerry  Alwine  for  the  use  of  this  supply.  Beside  the 
public  supplied  by  the  various  water  companies  there  are  many  per- 
sons in  the  outlying  district  dependent  on  drilled  and  dug  wells. 
There  are  three  important  industrial  supplies,  the  Manufacturers 
Water  Company  with  intake  on  Stony  Creek  near  the  Somerset 
County  line  and  supplying  various  manufacturing  plants,  the  Green- 
briar  Water  Company,  supplying  the  Johnstown  Pressed  Brick  Com- 
pany with  about  6,000  gallons  of  water  daily  from  a  small,  impound- 
ing reservoir  in  the  outskirts  of  the  city,  and  the  Cambria  Steel  Com- 
pany's industrial  supply  from  Hinckston  Run,  where  there  is  a 
1,000,000,000  gallon  reservoir..  This  company  is  completing  an  ex- 
tensive project  for  deriving  an  industrial  supply  from  Quemahoning 
Creek  in  Somerset  County,  which,  when  completed,  will  include  the 
largest  artificial  body  of  water  in  Pennsylvania.  A  number  of  plants 
in  the  city  have  private  drilled  wells  Which  supply  water  for  indus- 
trial purposes.  The  city  is  more  or  less  completely  sewered  by  com- 
bined sewers  receiving  both  sewage  and  storm  water  and  discharging 
into  the  various  streams  within  the  city.  These  streams  are  con- 
taminated by  mine  drainage  and  are  yellow  in  appearance. 

The  principal  boroughs  and  villages  in  the  vicinity  of  Johnstown, 
and  properly  belonging  to  the  same  community,  include  Ferndale, 
Dale,  Daisytown,  WTestmont,  Rosedale,  and  Brownstown. 

Ferndale,  Cambria  County,  population  about  320,  is  a  borough  sit- 
uated on  Stony  Creek  south  of  and  adjoining  the  Seventeenth  ward 
of  Johnstown.  It  is  a  residential  suburb  deriving  its  water  supply 
in  part  from  the  Johnstown  Water  Company  and  partly  from  wells 
and  springs.  A  portion  of  the  borough  is  served  by  a  small  system 
of  public  sewers  with  an  outlet  to  Stony  Creek.  There  are  also  a 
number  of  private  drains  discharging  sewage  and  kitchen  waste  to 
the  highways  or  Stony  Creek. 

Dale,  Cambria  County,  population  2,200,  is  a  borough  adjoining 
Johnstown  on  the  southeast,  drained  by  Solomon  Run  which  passes 
through  the  borough  and  thence  through  a  portion  of  Johnstown  into 
Stony  Creek.    It  is  a  suburban,  residential  community  supplied  with 


226 


water  by  the  Johnstown  Water  Company  exceptt  in  the  most  elevated 
portions  where  individual  dug  and  drilled  wells  are  used.  The  bor- 
ough has  a  combined  system  of  sewers  serving  about  three-quarters 
of  the  population  through  four  outlets,  three  into  Solomon  Run  and 
one  into  a  Johnstown  City  sewer.  The  remaining  population  de- 
pend upon  privies,  of  which  there  are  about  a  hundred  in  use.  Many 
small  drains  discharge  kitchen  waste  and  in  some  cases  sewage  to  the 
run  or  to  the  street  gutters. 

Daisytown,  Cambria  County,  population  350,  is  a  residential  bor- 
ough adjoining  the  city  of  Johnstown  on  the  east.  There  is  no  pub- 
lic water  supply,  the  inhabitants  depending  upon  the  use  of  three 
drilled  wells  and  perhaps  thirty-five  dug  wells.  The  town  is  also 
without  sewers.  The  privies  which  are  in  general  use  are  dug  in 
gravelly  soil  and  seldom  or  never  overflow.  Some  kitchen  waste 
reaches  the  highways. 

Westmont,  Cambria  County,  population  1,500,  is  a  residential  bor- 
ough on  the  heights  overlooking  the  central  portion  of  Johnstown, 
with  which  it  is  connected  by  an  inclined  plane.  Water  is  supplied 
by  the  Johnstown  Water  Company  to  the  entire  population.  The 
borough  has  a  system  of  sanitary  sewers  aggregating  some  five  miles 
and  a  half  with  three  outlets,  two  into  Stony  Creek,  twelve  inches 
and  fifteen  inches  in  diameter,  and  one  eighteen  inches  in  diameter 
into  the  Conemaugh  River,  just  below  the  mouth  of  Stony  Creek.  It 
is  proposed  to  extend  the  system  and  construct  an  additional  out- 
let two  feet  in  diameter  into  Stony  Creek.  The  entire  population 
is  served  by  the  sewers. 

Rosedale,  Cambria  County,  population  about  390,  is  situated  due 
north  of  and  adjoining  the  city  of  Johnstowrn.  It  is  a  borough  lo- 
cated in  the  narrow  valley  of  Hinckston  Run  which  flows  the  entire 
length  of  the  borough,  about  a  mile  and  a  half.  The  inhabitants  are 
dependent  for  water  for  domestic  purposes  upon  a  large  number  of 
springs  and  to  some  extent  upon  private  wells.  There  are  no  public 
sewers  and  but  one  private  sewer  which  discharges  into  an  abandoned 
mill  race.  About  half  the  privies  have  cement  vaults;  the  remainder 
are  board  lined.  There  are  a  number  of  individual  drains  discharg- 
ing sewage  and  kitchen  waste  into  the  race  or  run. 

Brownstown,  Lower  Yoder  Township,  Cambria  County,  is  an  unin- 
corporated village  with  a  population  of  about  2.300,  adjoining  the 
western  boundary  of  the  borough  of  Westmont.  The  inhabitants  are 
largely  foreigners  and  the  less  resourceful  class  of  employees  of  the 
Cambria  Steel  Company,  the  houses  extending  in  tiers  up  the  steep 
hillside.  The  Johnstown  Water  Company  supplies  water  throughout 
the  settlement,  but  a  number  of  springs,  several  of  which  are  visibly 
polluted,  are  largely  used  for  drinking  purposes.  There  is  no  sewer 
system  and  the  privies  are  shallow  excavations  in  shale  and  rock, 


227 


consequently  subject  to  frequent  overflow.  The  kitchen  waste,  slops 
and  garbage  are  thrown  indiscriminately  to  the  streets  and  ground 
on  the  hillside  and  the  main  highway,  and  along  the  latter  is  a  ditch 
receiving  much  of  the  pollution  including  that  washed  down  by  every 
rain.  Out  of  some  350  houses  in  this  thickly  settled  section  222  dis- 
pose of  their  wastes  in  an  unsanitary  manner. 

Seward.  Westmoreland  County,  population  500,  is  a  borough  sit- 
uated about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  south  side  of  the  Cone- 
maugh  River  and  about  three  miles  below  the  county  line.  The  in- 
habitants depend  for  employment  upon  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad, 
three  neighboring  coal  mines,  and  the  Seward  Brick  Company  whose 
plant  employs  about  seventy-five  persons.  There  is  no  public  water 
system,  each  house  having  its  individual  dug  well,  except  that  a 
hotel  and  one  residence  are  supplied  by  a  private  pipe  line  from  a 
mountain  spring.  The  borough  has  no  public  sewers,  but  there  are 
•two  private  six-inch  sewers  receiving  surface,  roof  and  cellar  drain- 
age and  some  sewage  and  kitchen  waste  from  about  ten  properties. 
These  sewers  discharge  in  the  open  fields  about  1,500  and  2,000  feet 
respectively  from  the  river,  where  the  soil  is  porous  and  the  wastes 
quickly  disappear.  The  hotel  has  a  percolating  cesspool  and  other 
properties  have  brick  lined  privies  dug  in  porous  soil.  In  some 
cases  kitchen  waste  finds  its  way  into  the  highways  and  runs,  but 
usually  enters  the  soil. 

New  Florence,  Westmoreland  County,  population  1,000,  is  a  bor- 
ough situated  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Conemaugh  River  in  the 
northeast  part  of  the  county.  Industrially  the  town  is  dependent 
chiefly  upon  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad.  Water  is  furnished  to  the 
public  by  the  New  Florence  Water  Company  from  a  1,000,000  gallon 
reservoir  with  uninhabited  watershed  on  Baldwin  Run  about  two 
miles  from  the  borough.  Aside  from  those  using  some  six  dug  wells, 
the  inhabitants  are  supplied  entirely  by  the  water  company,  the  con- 
sumption being  estimated  at  about  40.000  gallons  a  day.  There  are 
no  public  sewers,  but  many  small  drains  used  chiefly  for  kitchen 
waste  discharge  into  the  river  or  into  the  highways,  mainly  the  lat- 
ter. There  are  perhaps  175  privies,  for  the  greater  part  dug  in  hard 
soil  and  in  many  cases  overflowing  and  causing  considerable  surface 
pollution. 

Garfield,  West  Wheatfield  Township,  Indiana  County,  population 
1,000,  is  an  unincorporated  town  located  on  the  northern  banks  of 
the  Conemaugh  River  nearly  opposite  but  slightly  east  of  Bolivar, 
Westmoreland  County,  with  which  it  is  connected  by  a  bridge.  Gar- 
field, the  borough  of  Bolivar,  and  West  Bolivar  village  are  practically 
one  community,  and  all  are  interested  primarily  in  the  manufacture 
of  fire  brick.  There  are  two  large  fire  brick  plants  at  Garfield,  the 
Garfield  Fire  Brick  Company  employing  about  150  men  and  a  plant 


228 


formerly  owned  by  the  Reese-Hammond  Fire  Brick  Company,  but 
temporarily  closed.  Water  is  supplied  to  tin;  public  by  the 
Mace  Springs  Water  Company,  which  also  supplies  Bolivar  and 
West  Bolivar.  About  half  the  population  of  Garfield  use  this  sup- 
ply, which  is  derived  from  two  small  tributaries  of  Tub  Mill  Creek 
in  Westmoreland  County  with  two  impounding  reservoirs  of  2,500,- 
000  gallons  and  1,000,000  gallons  capacity.  The  remainder  of  the 
population  derive  their  supply  from  some  twenty  dug  wells.  To  the 
surface  pollution  of  one  or  more  of  these  wells  was  attributed  an  epi- 
demic of  typhoid  fever  which  occurred  some  years  ago.  Privies  are  in 
general  use,  in  many  cases  overflowing  or  overhanging  one  of,  the  three 
small  runs  traversing  the  village.  The  highways  or  runs  also  receive 
kitchen  waste,  largely  by  way  of  small  drains. 

Bolivar,  Westmoreland  County,  population  950,  is  a  borough  sit- 
uated on  the  south  bank  of  the  Conemaugh  River  at  the  mouth  of 
Tub  Mill  Creek.  The  borough's  industries  comprise  a  large  plant  of 
the  Bolivar-Clearfield  Brick  Company,  formerly  the  Reese-Hammond 
brick  plant,  the  Bolivar  Foundry  and  Machine  Company,  the  Bolivar 
Heat,  Light  and  Power  Company,  and  the  U.  S.  Enamel  Brick  Com- 
pany. Water  is  supplied  to  the  public  by  the  Mace  Springs  Water 
Company,  derived  from  two  tributaries  of  Tub  Mill  Creek,  with  two 
impounding  reservoirs  of  3,500,000  gallons  combined  capacity.  Pub- 
lic water  is  generally  used.  The  borough  has  a  system  of  combined 
sewers  with  which  about  150  houses  are  connected,  sixty  of  which  have 
inside  closets.  This  system  has  two  outlets  eighteen  inches  and  fif- 
teen inches  in  diameter,  into  Tub  Mill  Creek,  the  former  about  200 
feet  from  the  mouth  of  the  creek,  the  latter  some  2,000  feet  above. 
There  are  about  120  privies  in  use;  some  thirty  have  water  tight,  ce- 
ment lined  vaults  and  about  the  same  number  are  lined  with  plank, 
the  remainder  being  dug  in  clay  soil.  Considerable  pollution  arises 
from  overflowing  privies  and  there  are  a  number  of  instances  of 
kitchen  waste  discharging  into  the  highway. 

West  Bolivar,  Fairfield  Township,  Westmoreland  County,  popula- 
tion about  500,  is  an  unincorporated,  residential  town  adjoining  the 
borough  of  Bolivar  on  Tub  Mill  Creek.  The  village  has  no  industries, 
the  inhabitants  being  employed  chiefly  at  Bolivar.  The  principal 
sources  of  water  for  domestic  use  are  individual  dug  wells,  but  a 
portion  of  the  people  are  supplied  by  the  Mace  Springs  Water  Com- 
pany which  furnishes  water  to  Bolivar  from  tributaries  of  Tub  Mill 
Creek.  The  village  has  no  sewers  except  a  number  of  small  drains 
for  kitchen  waste,  discharging  into  the  highway.  There  are  at  least 
two  overflowing  privies,  sewage  from  one  reaching  the  highway  and 
the.  other  Tub  Mill  Creek. 

Derry,  Westmoreland  County,  population  2,900,  is  a  borough  sit- 
uated about  six  miles  east  of  Latrobe  and  about  the  same  distance 
south  of  Blairsville  on  Ma  gee  Run,  a  tributary  entering  the  Cone- 

229 


ma  ugh  River  just  above  the  latter  town.  The  borough  is  a  division 
point  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  system  and  about  500  men  find 
employment  there,  beside  which  the  American  Window  Glass  Com- 
pany employs  about  100  men  and  the  Sevres  China  Company  em- 
ploys about  200.  Water  is  supplied  to  the  public  by  the  Derry  Water 
Company,  a  corporation  operated  by  the  Westmoreland  Water  Com- 
pany; but  having  no  connection  with  the  latter  company's  main  sys- 
tem. The  sources  of  supply  are  Magees  Run  and  one  of  its  tribu- 
taries, Millwood  Run,  in  the  mountains  about  Deny.  The  reser- 
voirs on  these  streams  have  about  2,250,000  gallons  and  2,500,000 
gallons  capacity.  For  locomotive  and  steam  use  there  is  also  an 
industrial  supply  derived  from  Ethel  Springs,  a  small  tributary  of 
Magee's  Run  with  two  reservoirs  of  190,000,000  gallons  and  600,000 
gallons  capacity.  Heretofore  there  have  been  no  public  sewers  in 
Derry,  but  about  200  small  private  sewers  have  emptied  into  the  two 
runs  in  the  borough  and  probably  2,000  persons  use  privies  of  a  shal- 
low type,  almost  universally  overflowing.  The  street  gutters  were 
generally  in  a  foul  condition  and  the  streams  of  the  borough  badly 
polluted.  As  a  result  of  these  conditions  and  in  accordance  with 
decrees  issued  by  the  Commissioner  of  Health,  April  20,  1907,  March 
2,  1908,  and  May  28,  1908,  the  borough  has  constructed  a  system  of 
sanitary  sewers  and  disposal  works  composed  of  sedimentation  tanks 
and  contact  filters  with  fifteen-inch  outlet  into  Magee  Run  below 
the  borough  limits.  The  Derry  Land  Company's  tract  just  outside 
of  the  borough  limits  in  Derry  township,  has  a  population  of  about 
225  persons  who  are  negotiating  for  the  privilege  of  connecting  with 
the  Derry  system.  At  present  their  sewage  is  discharged  into  a 
branch  of  Magee's  Run  above  the  borough. 

Cokeville,  Westmoreland  County,  population  about  500,  is  a  bor- 
ough situated  on  the  Conemaugh  River  at  the  mouth  of  Magee's  Run 
and  about  one  mile  above  Blairsville,  formerly  depending  upon  coal 
and  coke  operations  in  its  immediate  vicinity  which  are  now 
abandoned.  Many  of  the  residents  find  employment  in  Blairsville, 
as  there  are  no  active  industries  of  importance  in  the  borough.  There 
is  no  water  supply  system  and  dug  wells  are  universally  used.  Board 
lined  privy  vaults  are  in  general  use  and  kitchen  waste  is  discharged 
largely  to  the  ground  except  that  there  are  twenty  or  more  small 
drains  discharging  from  individual  properties  into  ditches,  the  old 
canal  bed,  or  the  river.  A  slaughter  house  on  the  bank  of  the  river 
discharges  its  wastes  thereto. 

Blairsville,  Indiana  County,  population  about  3,500,  is  a  borough 
located  on  a  level  plateau  on  a  neck  of  land  enclosed  in  a  loop  of 
the  Conemaugh  River,  the  river  forming  the  easterly  and  westerly 
boundaries.  The  principal  industrial  enterprises  in  the  borough  are 
the  Columbia  Plate  Glass  Company  with  several  hundred  employees, 


230 


and  the  Blairsville  Enamel  Company  employing  about  a  hundred 
persons.  The  borough  has  a  municipal  water  works  system  whose 
source  of  supply  is  the  Conemaugh  River  above  the  borough.  Water 
is  pumped  through  a  sixteen-inch  suction  pipe  having  a  strainer  on 
its  end  submerged  twelve  inches  below  extreme  low  water  and  raised 
by  means  of  three  pumping  engines  with  a  total  capacity  of  3,250,- 
000  gallons  a  day  to  a  169,000,000  gallon  masonry  reservoir  from 
which  water  flows  by  gravity  through  the  distribution  system.  This 
source  will  be  abandoned  soon  for  a  drilled  well  supply. 
About  300  persons  rely  entirely  upon  private  wells  or  springs  and 
300  more  use  the  public  supply  in  part,  the  remaining  population 
depending  entirely  upon  the  public  system.  The  reservoir  has  a 
capacity  less  than  the  daily  consumption  thus  affording  little  or  no 
sedimentation,  and  any  pollution  existing  in  the  Conemaugh  River 
might  pass  directly  into  the  street  mains.  Water  drawn  from  the 
taps  in  the  town  is  turbid  at  times  when  the  river  water  is  turbid. 
On  June  10,  1907,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  called  the  attention 
of  the  borough  authorities  to  the  necessity  for  safeguarding  the  pub- 
lic health  by  the  installation  of  an  approved  water  purification  plant 
and  that  meantime  the  public  should  be  warned  that  all  water  used 
for  drinking  and  culinary  purposes  should  be  boiled. 

The  borough  has  an  incomplete  system  of  combined  sewers.  There 
are  about  900  buildings  in  the  borough  and  some  400  are  connected 
with  the  sewers.  Also  there  are  477  privies,  some  of  which  have  sewer 
connections.  Less  than  half  the  population  live  in  dwellings  with  sewer 
connections.  Over  five-eighths  of  the  built-up  portion  of  the  town  is 
reached  by  sewers  aggregating  about  five  miles  and  a  half  with  four 
public  and  two  private  sewer  outlets  into  the  river  and  two  public  and 
three  private  outlets  into  Sulphur  Run.  The  public  sewer  outlets 
range  in  size  from  six  inch  tile  to  a  three  foot  by  five  foot  brick 
culvert,  the  latter  forming  the  principal  sewer  and  enclosing  a  por- 
tion of  the  stream  known  as  Bloody  Run.  On  June  10th,  1907,  the 
Commissioner  of  Health  issued  a  permit  for  an  extension  of  certain 
sewers  and  requiring  the  preparation  of  plans  for  the  ultimate  treat- 
ment of  the  sewage.  Liquid  wastes  from  the  Blairsville  Enamel  Com- 
pany's plant  are  discharged  into  Sulphur  Run  after  some  effort  at 
treatment. 

Black  Lick,  Burrell  Township,  Indiana  County,  population  about 
400,  is  an  unincorporated  village  at  the  confluence  of  Two  Lick  and 
Black  Lick  Creeks  about  six  miles  from  the  point  where  Black  Lick 
Creek  discharges  into  the  Conemaugh  River.  It  is  an  old,  rural  com- 
munity with  no  industries,  although  in  a  measure  dependent  on  the 
extensive  operations  of  the  Josephine  Furnace  Company  at  Jose- 
phine, about  one  mile  east  of  this  point  on  Black  Lick  Creek.  There 
is  a  small  water  power  development  here  on  Black  Lick  Creek.  Water 


231 


for  domestic  use  is  obtained  from  dug  wells  and  a  few  drilled  wells 
aud  springs.  Every  house  has  a  privy  dug  in  percolating  soil.  There 
are  no  public  sewers  and  but  one  private  sewer  which,  however,  re- 
ceives only  the  kitchen  waste  from  about  fifteen  properties.  From 
some  twelve  other  properties  kitchen  wastes  are  discharged  on  to  the 
highways. 

Livermore,  Westmoreland  County,  population  about  300,  is  a 
borough  situated  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Conemaugh  River  about 
six  miles  below  Blairsville.  The  borough  has  no  industrial  plants. 
Water  for  domestic  use  is  obtained  from  private,  dug  wells,  of  which 
there  are  about  thirty  in  use.  There  are  no  public  sewers  and  but 
four  private  sewers  from  individual  properties  discharging  sewage, 
although  there  are  a  large  number  of  small  drains  for  kitchen  waste. 
One  of  the  four  private  sewers  discharges  into  a  cesspool.  Ap- 
proximately forty-two  privies  are  in  service. 

Jacksonville,  Indiana  County,  population  about  90,  is  an  inland 
borough  about  seven  miles  north  of  the  Conemaugh  River  on  Ault- 
mans  Run.  It  is  a  rural  community  without  industries,  although 
the  extensive  coal  deposits  give  promise  of  early  activity.  Water  is 
obtained  from  private,  dug  wells  and  two  drilled  wells.  Each  of 
the  twenty-four  houses  in  the  borough  has  a  well  kept  privy  vault 
dug  in  gravel  or  shale,  and  there  are  no  sewers.  It  is  reported  that 
five  properties  drain  kitchen  waste  into  the  highway. 

Saltsburg,  Indiana  County,  population  about  1,400,  is  situated 
in  the  southwestern  corner  of  Indiana  County  on  the  north  bank 
of  the  Conemaugli  River  opposite  the  point  where  its  confluence  Avith 
Loyalhanna  creek  forms  the  Kiskiminetas  River.  The  Saltsburg 
Bottle  Works  employing  about  70  men  and  the  Saltsburg  plant  of 
the  American  Sheet  Steel  Company  employing  about  170  men  are 
the  chief  industrial  features  of  the  town.  The  borough  has  a  mu- 
nicipal water  works  system  deriving  its  supply  from  the  Conemaugh 
River  at  a  point  above  the  sewer  outlets.  Crude  river  water  is 
raised  by  means  of  two  pumping  engines,  operated  about  two  days 
each  week,  to  the  distributing  reservoir  which  holds  a  supply  for 
about  thirteen  days.  During  the  period  of  pumping  the  water  is 
delivered  directly  to  the  mains,  the  surplus  only  coming  to  the  reser- 
voir. The  daily  consumption  is  about  75,000  gallons.  It  is  estimated 
that  1,100  persons  are  supplied  with  public  water,  the  remainder  us- 
ing wrells  and  springs.  The  rolling  mill  of  the  American  Sheet  and 
Tin  Plate  Company  has  an  industrial  supply  drawn  from  the  Cone- 
maugh River  amounting  to  about  100,000  gallons  a  day,  of  which 
about  six-tenths  is  returned  to  the  river  with  little  or  no  pollution. 
The  borough  has  a  public  sewer  system  receiving  both  sewage  and 
storm  water  and  discharging  by  way  of  four  outlets  into  the  river, 
and  serving  about  750  persons  or  three-fourths  of  the  population  in 


232 


the  sewered  district,  the  remainder  using  shallow  privies.  On  June 
10th,  1907,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  issued  a  permit  for  the  con- 
struction of  an  additional  outlet  sewer,  but  requiring  the  prepara- 
tion of  plans  for  a  comprehensive  sewerage  system  having  for  its 
ultimate  object  the  interception  and  purification  of  all  the  borough 
sewage. 

Iselin,  Young  Township,  Indiana  County,  pofmlation  1,300,  is  a 
new,  unincorporated  village  in  the  southwestern  part  of  Indiana 
County  on  Hooper's  Run,  a  tributary  of  Black  Leg  Creek.  The  town 
has  been  built  up  as  a  result  of  operations  of  the  Pittsburgh  Gas 
Coal  Company,  which  owns  all  the  property,  including  about  200 
houses.  The  coal  company  has  a  water  supply  system  with  an  intake 
dam  on  Hooper's  Run  below  the  town,  from  which  water  is  piped 
to  a  filter  plant,  and  thence  pumped  to  a  distributing  reservoir.  The 
filter  is  a  one  unit  plant  with  a  capacity  of  6,000  gallons,  the  present 
consumption  being  about  5,000  gallons.  Beside  this  supply  there 
are  some  seven  or  eight  springs  which  furnish  probably  two-thirds 
of  the  population  with  drinking  water.  Privy  vaults  are  in  general 
use,  several  of  the  older  ones  being  unsanitary  due  to  overflowing. 
There  are  no  public  sewers  and  but  four  properties  connected  with 
private  sewers,  these  discharging  into  Hooper's  Run.  Some  surface 
pollution  is  likely  to  reach  the  stream  above  the  water  works  intake, 
but  considerable  care  is  taken  to  prevent  this. 

Along  this  valley  of  the  Conemaugh  River  from  Johnstown  to 
Avonmore  there  are  thirty-seven  coal  mines,  the  drainage  of  which 
is  pumped  from  four  amounting  to  1,440  gallons  a  minute.  The 
drainage  from  the  remaining  thirty-three  mines  is  by  gravity  and 
it  amounts  to  3,170  gallons  a  minute  or  a  total  of  4,610  gallons  a 
minute  being  discharged  into  the  river  in  this  section.  We  may  there- 
fore make  a  summary  of  the  coal  mining  operations  in  the  Kiski- 
minetas  watershed  above  Avonmore  as  follows: 


District. 

Coal  Mines. 

Discharge  of 

Mine  Drainage. 

Gallons  per 

Minute. 

176 
59 
6S 
37 

36,490 
14,350 

4,610 

Rlack  Lick   Creek,    

Total 

340 

90,7S4 

The  Cambria  Steel  Company  has  made  chemical  analyses  of  the 
Conemaugh  River  water  at  Coopersdale  in  the  lower  part  of  Johns- 
town City.     In  Table  LTV  results  of  these  analyses  are  shown: 


233 


o 


g  J*  g  lr  -s  cc 


Q 


as'ssa'*  •  \\ 


18W 


OHMNaM     .  e*  < 


w>    a 
,•     ^     o 

«       S     3 


NM'NCOO 


pq 


O 


O 


^3 

be 

3 


o 


KMlOMWHOOc 
t-4  CO  CS  CD  l^  tj<  t^  <o  r- 


g   .....  n   . 

p  .  .  :  .  :jj  :  . 

<  ■  :     :'.-'■  3 

■a   '■    '■  5   '•%       -o 

a   :   ■  S     ^  o  J!  w 
«       .2   --i~.E 
a   -  2  ~f  3  o  « ;  o  <a 


234 


The  Cambria  Steel  Company  has  also  made  analyses  of  the  Cone- 
maugh River  water  just  below  the  City  of  Johnstown  at  No.  1  Blast 
Furnace.     The  results  of  these  analyses  are  given  in  Table  LV: 

TABLE    LV. 

Chemical  Analyses  of  Conemaugh  River  Water  at  Johnstown. 

Parts  per  Million. 

(Conemaugh  just  below  Johnstown.     No.   1  Blast  Furnace  Supply  J 


Nov.  19, 
1902, 


Iron    and    Alumina, 

S03 

Lime 

Magnesia 

Silica 

Free   Acid,-   

Organic   Matter,    .., 

Chlorine 

Total     Solids 


63 
43 
15 
6 
None. 
21 
8 
165 


Eeb.  15, 

1904. 


16.4 
31.0 
19.0 
8.3 
8.8 
2.6 
13.4 


99.5 


Nov.  19. 
1904. 


18.8 
149.7 
7S.0 
22.8 
14.4 


28.4 
325.0 


Dec.  3, 

1904. 


9.1 
9.2 
6.2 
.9  6 


4.0 
57.0 


Dec.  21, 

1904. 


26.4 
199.2 
75.4 
27.5 
17.6 
12.5 


18.7 
332.8 


Jan.  14, 
1905. 


22.0 
185.0 
63.7 
22.6 
78.0 
11.0 

"4.O 
328.9 


Iron    and    Alumina, 

SO, 

Lime 

Magnesia,      

Silica,     

Free    Acid,     

Organic  Matter,    . . 

Chlorine ■ 

Total     Solids 


Jan.  24, 
1905. 


37.4 
51.9 
54.1 
10.4 
17.7 


3.0' 

211.4 


Feb.  13, 

1905. 


16.0 
78.9 
34.0 
22,8 
13.8 


2.1 

204.2 


Feb.  24, 
1905. 


26.0 
74.7 
31.2 
19. S 
19.2 
3.3 


2.2 

205.2 


Mar.  11, 

1906>. 


21.0 
40.0 
18.8 
10.2 
30.4 
3.3 


Mar.  24, 

Apr.  10, 

1905. 

liru6. 

22.2 

75.2 

39.4 

36.0 

19.9 

20.6 

6.3 

3S.0 

27.9 

60.6 

None. 

4.9 

155.6 

304.6 

Iron    and    Alumina, 

SO. 

Lime,    

Magnesia,     

Silica 

Free    Acid,    

Chlorine,     

Total    Solids 


May  10, 

1905. 


43. G 
43. S 
21. S 
14.0 
58.4 
3.3 


23-S.G 


June  10, 
1906. 


26.3 
20.2 
30.1 
13.6 
42.S 


July  24, 
1905. 


28.2 
61.8 
2S.4 
21.0 
29.0 
6.6 


222.2 


Aug.  24, 
1905. 


20.0 
55.8 
20.0 
19.2 
11.6 
4.95 


176.2 


Sept.  25, 
1905. 


21.6 
70.2 
74.0 
16.6 
16.2 
3.3 


215.8 


235 


The  Win.  B.  Scaife  &  Sous  Company  has  analyzed  the  Conemaugh 
River  water  at  Blairsville  for  the  Columbia  Plate  Glass  Company.  In 
Table  LY1   the  results  are  given: 

table  Lvr. 

Chemical   Analyses  of  Conemaugh  River  Water  at  Blairsville. 
Parts  per  Million. 


Volatile  and   Organic 

Silica 

Iron   and    A  I.    Oxides 

Calcium     Oxide 

Magnesium   Oxide 

Sodium    Oxide 

Sulphuric    Anhydride,     

Carbonic   Anhydride    (Fixed),    

Carbonic  Anhydride   (Free),    

Chlorine,      

Nitric    Anhydride,     

Alkalinity   as   Calcium   Carbonate, 

Acidity   as   Sulphuric   Acid,    

Calcium    Carbonate,     

Calcium    Sulphate 

Magnesium  Sulphate 

Sodium    Sulphate 

Sodium     Chloride,      

Total    Solids 

Suspended    Matter,    

Free  Carbonic  Acid 

Incrusting    Solids 

Non-incrusting    Solids,     


Dec.  4,  190S. 


2.6 
9.4 
1.7 
102.6 
36.2 
31.6 
23S  7 


Trace. 

None. 
None. 
None. 


9.4 
18.8 


249.1 
108.8 

34.9 

31.0 
437.4 

24. S 

9.4 

371.6 

Go.S 


The  local  health  authorities  of  the  principal  places  along  the 
valley  of  the  Conemaugh  Elver  from  Johnstown  to  Avonmore  have 
reported  typhoid  fever  cases  to  the  State  Department  of  Health  for 
the  years  1906  to  1912,  inclusive.  These  reported  cases  are  shown 
in  Table  LVII: 

TABLE  LVII. 

Typhoid  Fever  Cases  Reported  for  the  Conemaugh  Valley,  Johnstown  to  Avonmore, 

1906—1912,   inclusive. 


Johnstown. 
Brownstown, 
Daisy  town, 

Dale 

Itosedale 

Westmont, 
Blairsville,    ... 
Jacksonville, 

I)erry,      

New    Florence, 
Livermore, 

Seward,    

Cokeville 

Bolivar,    


1906. 

1907. 

1908. 

1909. 

1910. 

1911. 

240 

206 

272 

160 

135 

64 

0 

0 

1 

0 

14 

7 

0 

0 

4 

1 

1 

2 

0 

0 

4 

2 

13 

2 

0 

0 

1 

0 

6 

0 

0 

3 

28 

2 

1 

4 

9 

16 

14 

7 

4 

8 

0 

0 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

3 

3 

3 

6 

0 

0 

0 

1 

1 

2 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1 

2 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

2 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

286 


8. — Survey  of  Kiskiminetas  [liver  Valley — A  vonmore  to  A  llegheny 

1  liver. 

In  this  stretch  of  the Kiskiminetas  Valley  are  the  following  places: 
Avonmore,  Apollo,  Vandergrift,  Vandergrift  Heights,  East  Vander- 
grift, Hyde  Park,  and  Leechburg. 

Avonmore,  Westmoreland  County,  population  1,100,  is  a  borough 
situated  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Kiskiminetas  River  about  four 
miles  below  the  mouth  of  Loyalhanna  Creek.  It  is  an  .industrial 
community  dependent  chiefly  upon  three  plants:  the  tin  plate  works 
of  the  Alcania  Company  with  about  ISO  employees  manufacturing 
about  6,000  tons  of  tin  plate  a  year,  the  West  Penn  Foundry  Com- 
pany, and  the  Avonmore  Cast  Steel  Company.  Domestic  and  indus- 
trial water  supplies  are  drawn  from  private  wells.  The  borough  con- 
structed during  the  year  1900,  a  municipal  water  works  system  con- 
sisting of  a  series  of  drilled  wells.  The  wells  are  four  in  number 
from  which  the  water  is  pumped  into  a  water  tank.  From  this  tank 
the  water  is  forced  directly  into  the  mains,  the  surplus  passing  into 
a  reservoir  whence  it  flows  by  gravity  into  the  distribution  sys- 
tem when  the  pumps  are  not  operated.  The  four  drilled  wells  are 
located  on  flat  land  within  an  area  of  about  two  acres  directly  be- 
yond the  build-up  residential  portion  of  the  borough.  They  are  from 
150  to  250  feet  deep  and  are  cased  to  within  four  feet  of  the  bottom. 
From  these  wells  500,000  gallons  of  water  a  day  can  be  pumped.  The 
system  has  been  approved  by  the  State  Department  of  Health. 

There  are  four  public  combined  sewers  in  the  town,  all  of  which 
discharge  into  a  small  run  tributary  to  the  river.  One  of  these  is 
six  inches  in  diameter  and  extends  easterly  on  Allegheny  Avenue 
for  600  feet.  It  was  built  in  1907.  An  eight-inch  sewer  extends 
westerly  on  Indiana  Street  1,800  feet.  Another  eight-inch  sewer  ex- 
tends westerly  on  Railroad  Avenue  900  feet.  A  nine-inch  sewer  ex- 
tends westerly  on  Westmoreland  Avenue  1,300  feet.  Connected  with 
this  sewer  is  a  six-inch  lateral  on  Fifth  Street.  There  are  a  number 
of  cesspools  in  the  borough  and  the  common  shallow  privy  vault  is 
in  almost  universal  use.  Industrial  wastes  of  importance  are  con- 
tributed by  the  Alcania  Company  where  from  3,000  to  4,000  pounds 
of  concentrated  sulphuric  acid  a  day  are  used  in  the  pickling  process, 
the  spent  acids  being  discharged  through  a  sewer  into  a  pool  whence 
the  liquid  percolates  through  the  soil  into  the  river. 

Apollo,  Armstrong  County,  population  about  3.000,  is  a  borough 
situated  on  the  north  side  of  the  Kiskiminetas  River  and  about 
twelve  miles  from  the  mouth  of  that  stream.  It  has  no  industries  ex- 
cept a  woolen  mill  and  two  flour  mills,  the  inhabitants  being  largely 
employed  a  short  distance  down  stream  at  the  large  manufacturing 

16  237 


plants  in  Vandergrift  and  Leechburg.  Water  is  supplied  by  the 
Apollo  Water  Works  Company,  a  subsidiary  company  of.  the  Penn- 
sylvania Water  Company,  and  is  furnished  to  the  greater  portion  of 
the  inhabitants,  although  a  few  private  dug  wells  are  in  use.  The 
source  of  supply  is  Reaver  Run,  a  tributary  entering  the  Kiskimine- 
tas  River  opposite  Apollo  in  Westmoreland  County.  On  this  run 
there  is  an  earth  dam  with  stone  masonry  core  wall  about  thirty 
feet  in  height  or  twenty  feet  to  the  spillway.  The  impounding  reser- 
voir thus  formed  has  a  capacity  of  70,000,000  gallons.  A  sixteen- 
incli  pipe  leads  the  water  from  this  reservoir  to  a  slow  sand  filter 
plant  consisting  of  two  units  of  1,000,000  gallons  capacity  each,  only 
one  of  which  is  operated  at  a  time.  This  water  is  then  pumped  to  a 
13,000,000  gallon  reservoir  from  Which  it  flows  by  gravity  through  a 
twelve-inch  main  to  Apollo,  and  through  another  main  to  Leechburg. 
The  Leechburg  Water  Company  purchases  its  supply  from  the  Apollo 
Water  Works  Company.  Tt  is  reported  that  (here  are  about  500  taps 
and  two  factories  supplied  with  this  water  in  Apollo.  The  borough 
has  a  combined  system  of  storm  and  sanitary  sewers  serving  most 
of  the  properties  nearly  all  of  those  not  so  connected  having  private 
sewer  outlets,  of  which  there  are  twenty  or  more  with  about,  thirty- 
five  properties  connected,  the  outlets  being  into  the  river  or  into  a 
badly  contaminated  stream  called  Sugar  Run.  There  are  also  a  large 
number  of  small  sewers  for  kitchen  waste  discharging  mainly  into 
the  stream. 

Vandergrift,  Westmoreland  County,  population  2,800,  is  an  indus- 
trial borough  situated  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Kiskiminetas  River 
about  ten  miles  from  its  mouth.  Industrially  it  is  mainly  depend- 
ent upon  the  American  Sheet  and  Tin  Plate  Company,  employing 
over  3,000  men  with  a  weekly  output  of  about  3,500  tons  of  black  and 
galvanized  sheets.  Other  industries  are  the  United  Engineering  and 
Foundry  Company,  400  employees,  and  the  planing  mill  of  the  Van- 
dergrift Lumber  Company  with  about  ten  employees.  Water  for  do- 
mestic use  is  supplied  to  the  public  by  the  Vandergrift  Water  Com- 
pany and  is  used  by  practically  the  entire  population.  The  source 
of  supply  is  in  ten  wells  drilled  in  the  vicinity  of  Pine  Run  from 
which  the  water  is  pumped  to  a  mechanical  filtration  plant  consist- 
ing of  two  Jewell  Filter  Units  and  one  Roberts  Filter.  There  are 
three  distributing  reservoirs,  two  of  them  consisting  of  iron  tanks 
with  a  capacity  of  338,400  gallons  each  and  one  wooden  tank  of  50,000 
gallons  capacity.  This  water  is  furnished  also  to  the  boroughs  of 
East  Vandergrift  and  Vandergrift  Heights.  Industrial  supplies  are 
drawn  from  the  river  by  the  American  Sheet  and  Tin  Plate  Company 
and  by  the  United  Engineering  and  Foundry  Company,  the  former 
said  to  use  18,720,000  gallons  of  water  a  day,  ninety-six  per  cent,  of 
which  is  returned  to  the  stream.    The  borough  has  a  comprehensive 


238 


and  complete  system  of  combined  sewers  to  which  every  dwelling  is 
connected  as  well  as  street  inlets.  No  outside  privies  are  used.  The 
sewer  system  discharges  into  the  river  through  a  single  outlet  at  the 
lower  end  of  the  borough  and  just  above  the  plant  of  the  American 
Sheet  and  Tin  Plate  Company.  A  pond  near  this  point  which  was 
formerly  connected  with  the  river,  has  its  outlet  closed.  Consider- 
able kitchen  waste  and  some  sewage  has  been  discharged  into  this 
pond  at  times  creating  offensive  conditions.  The  liquid  wastes  from 
the  tin  plate  works  amounting  to  over  34,000  gallons  a  day,  so  it 
is  reported,  contain  less  than  one  per  cent,  of  free  acid.  These  wastes 
are  the  spent  liquors  from  the  pickling  process  in  which  muriatic  and 
sulphuric  acids  are  used. 

Vandergrift  Heights,  Westmoreland  County,  population  about 
3,000,  is  a  borough  situated  on  the  bluff  south  of  the  Kiskiminetas 
River  immediately  south  of  Vandergrift  Borough.  It  is  a  residential 
town,  the  inhabitants  being  mainly  employees  in  the  large  industrial 
plants  at  Vandergrift  and  vicinity.  Practically  the  entire  popula- 
tion is  served  with  water  by  the  Vandergrift  Water  Company,  there 
being  about  650  taps  in  the  borough.  There  are  no  public  sewers  and 
but  one  private  sewer,  the  latter  having  fourteen  or  more  dwellings 
connected  with  it  and  discharging  into  Frozen  Hollow  Creek  about 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  river.  Another  stream,  a  small  run, 
passes  through  the  centre  of  the  borough  discharging  into  the  river 
through  the  property  of  the  Tin  Plate  Company.  Probably  three- 
quarters  of  the  houses  in  the  borough  have  individual  drains  dis- 
charging kitchen  waste,  bath  waste,  and  in  some  cases  closet  sewage 
into  the  highways  and  thence  to  this  run,  and  some  of  them  to 
Frozen  Hollow  Creek.  xAt  the  time  of  the  Department's  inspection, 
in  March,  1907,  the  sanitary  condition  of  the  borough  was  very  bad. 
Since  then  conditions  have  improved. 

East  Vandergrift,  Westmoreland  County,  population  about  580,  is 
a  residential  town  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Kiskiminetas  River.  Wa- 
ter is  supplied  by  the  Vandergrift  Water  Company  to  about  eighty 
connections,  the  greater  part  of  the  population,  however,  depend  on 
driven  wells  and  springs.  There  are  no  sewers  excepft  a  few  private 
drains  for  kitchen  waste  discharging  into  the  highways  or  the  river. 

Hyde  Park,  Westmoreland  County,  population  about  350,  is  a  bor- 
ough situated  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Kiskiminetas  River  about  six 
miles  from  its  mouth.  It  is  an  industrial  town  having  a  number  of 
plants  whose  employees  reside  in  Hyde  Park  and  the  neighboring 
boroughs.  The  industries  include  a  plant  of  the  American  Sheet  and 
Tin  Plate  Company,  manufacturing  about  360  tons  a  week  of  black 
sheets  and  giving  employment  to  about  225  men,  the  Hyde  Park 
Foundry  and  Machine  Company  employing  about  50  men,  the  Hyde 
Park  Brewing  Company  with  about  22  persons  employed,  the  Em- 


239 


pire  Brick  Company  with  25  employees  and  two  new  plants  in  course 
of  construction  in  March,  1907,  the  Michigan  Car  Roofing  Company 
and  the  Block  Tile  Company.  The  borough  has  no  public  water  sup- 
ply. An  industrial  supply  is  drawn  from  the  river  by  the  American 
Sheet  and  Tin  Plate  Company  amounting  to  about  150,000  gallons 
a  day  of  which  about  three-fifths  is  said  to  be  returned  to  the  stream. 
The  only  public  sewer  is  a  two-loot  storm  drain  and  the  only  private 
sewers  noted  are  a  ten-inch  sewer  from  the  Hyde  Park  Hotel,  a 
twelve-inch  sewer  from  the  American  Sheet  and  Tin  Plate  Com- 
pany's plant  and  a  twelve-inch  sewer  from  the  Hyde  Park  Brewing 
Company.  It  is  said  that  the  only  wastes  from  the  plant  of  the  tin 
plate  company  consist  of  sewage  from  the  closets. 

Leechburg,  Armstrong  County,  population  about  2,800,  is  a  bor- 
ough situated  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Kiskiminetas  River  about 
five  miles  from  its  mouth.  It  is  an  industrial  community  whose 
manufacturing  plants  include  works  of  the  American  Sheet,  and 
Tin  Plate  Company  employing  410  persons  in  the  manufacture  of 
black  plate  and  the  Pittsburgh  Shovel  Company  employing  about  80 
men.  Water  is  supplied  through  500  service  taps,  to  the  public,  by 
the  Leechburg  Water  Company,  a  corporation  owned  and  operated 
by  the  Pennsylvania  Water  Company  in  connection  with  the  Apollo 
Water  Works  Company,  another  subsidiary  concern.  The  Leechburg 
Water  Company  obtains  a  supply  from  the  Apollo  Water  Works 
Company  which  is  derived  from  Beaver  Creek  and  subjected  to  fil- 
tration. This  supply  has  been  considered  above  under  the  descrip- 
tion of  Apollo  Borough.  The  American  Sheet  and  Tin  Plate  Com- 
pany has  a  private  industrial  supply  from  the  Kiskiminetas  River 
amounting  to  300,000  gallons  a  day.  The  borough  is  quite  extensively 
sewered  with  a  combined  system,  with  a  single  thirty-inch  outlet 
and  two  storm  water  overflows.  The  overflow  outlets  enter  the  river 
near  the  upper  end  of  the  borough  and  near  the  centre,  respectively, 
and  the  sanitary  outlet  is  near  the  lower  end.  Beside  the  public 
sewers  there  are  a  large  number  of  individual  private  sewers  discharg- 
ing sewage  in  some  cases,  but  mainly  kitchen  waste,  into  the  river, 
and  there  are  a  number  of  instances  of  kitchen  waste  discharged  into 
the  highway.  The  Tin  Plate  Works  and  the  Shovel  Plant  each  have 
private  sewers  for  sewage  and  industrial  waste.  There  are  many 
privies  overhanging  or  directly  polluting  the  river  or  a  small  run. 
It  is  reported  that  the  plant  of  the  Tin  Plate  Company  has  no  manu- 
factural  wastes  other  than  water  used  for  cooling  purposes,  but 
there  is  said  to  be  a  small  amount  of  oil  of  vitriol  in  the  wastes  from 
the  Pittsburgh  Shovel  Company's  plant.  At  the  village  of  West 
Leechburg,  Westmoreland  County,  across  the  river  from  Leechburg, 
Armstrong  County,  is  located  the  plant  of  the  West  Leechburg  Sheet 
and  Tin  Plate  Company.  This  company  derives  a  private,  industrial 
supply  from  the  river. 

240 


Along  the  Kiskiminetas  River  valley  from  Avonmore  to  the  Alle- 
gheny River  there  are  forty-four  coal  mines.  The  drainage  from  six 
of  these  mines  is  pumped  amounting  to  950  gallons  a  minute.  The 
remaining  thirty-eight  mines  drain  naturally,  the  volume  discharged 
amounting  to  4,5S5  gallons  a  minute.  Hence  the  total  of  5,535  gal- 
lons a  minute  of  mine  drainage  is  discharged  into  the  waters  of  the 
State  in  this  section  of  the  Kiskiminetas  River  basin. 

There  are,  therefore,  in  the  entire  Kiskiminetas  River  drainage 
area  384  coal  mines  discharging  nearly  100,000  gallons  of  acid  mine 
drainage  a  minute  into  the  waters  of  said  basin. 

The  American  Sheet  and  Tin  Plate  Company  has  analyzed  the  wa- 
ters of  the  Kiskiminetas  River  at  Yandergrift.  In  Table  LVIII  the 
results  of  some  analyses  of  water  during  a  low  stage  of  the  river  in 
1907  and  a  high  stage  of  the  river  the  same  year  and  a  low  stage 
of  the  river  for  the  following  year,  are  given: 

TABLE  LVIII. 

Chemical  Analyses   of  Kiskiminetas   River  at  Vandergrift. 
Parts  per  Million. 


Determination. 


Color,     

Odor,     

Reaction,    

Acidity    H2S04 

Chlorine,      

Total   Solids 

Total    Ammonia,     

Free    Ammonia 

Albuminoid    Ammonia, 

Nitrites,     

Nitrates 

Suspended    Matter,     ... 


Loss  on  ignition  CO;,    

Silica 

Iron    and    Aluminium    Oxides 

Lime 

Magnesia,     

Sulphuric    Anhydride,     


Vandergrift 

Low  River  Water 

Aug.  2,  1907. 


Clear. 

Odorless. 

\cid. 


Trace. 
Trace. 


44.1 
15.0 
258.0 


Vandergrift 

High  River  Water 

Sept.  S,  1907. 


Muddy. 
Odorless 
Acid. 


14.0 
6.0 

107.0 


Vandergrift 

Very  Low  River 

Oct.  24,  1908. 


Clear. 

Odorless. 

Acid. 


65.4 
92o!o 


Constitution    of    Total    Solids. 


Note — The   high    river  water   was   filtered    for   analysis   so   that   the   soluble    salts   could   be    com- 
pared with  the  analysis  of  August  2d,  1907. 

During  the  years  1908  and  1909  the  American  Sheet  and  Tin 
Plate  Company  collected  samples  of  water  of  the  Kiskiminetas  River 
every  month  and  determined  the  acidity  of  these  samples.  In  Table 
LIX  are  given  the  results  of  these  analyses: 


241 


00C3  © 


►J 

a 

- 

-: 

H 


>      M 


rH      . 

•o 

ti 

:  :       8  : 

•  in 

1-3 

:  :       t-  : 

:<» 

•  e> 

□ 

l-s 

242 


During  a  period  of  eight  weeks  m  the  later  spring  of  1012  the 
American  Sheet  and  Tin  Plate  Company  collected  samples  of  the 
Kiskiminetas  River  Water  at  Vandergrift  and  determined  the  free 
acid  content  of  the  samples.    The  results  are  given  in  Table  LX: 

TABLE  LX. 

Chemical  Analyses  oi!  Kiskiminetas  Itiver  at  Vandergrift  as  to  Free  Acid. 


Date. 

Grains  per  Gallon. 

Date. 

Grains  per  Gallon. 

April 

29, 

1912 

0.8 

May 

30, 

1918 

1.5 

April 

30, 

0.4 

May 

31, 

1912 

1.2 

May 

1, 

0.3 

June 

1, 

1912, .... 

1.5  . 

May 

2, 

1912 

0.3 

1.3    Weekly  Ave. 

May 

a, 

1912 

0.4 

.Tune 

3, 

1912 

1.5 

May 

4, 

1912 

0.4 

June 

4, 

1912 

1.8 

0.43  Weekly  Ave. 

.Hi  no 

o, 

2.1 

May 

«, 

1912 

0.6 

June 

6, 

1912 

1.9 

May 

7, 

1912 

0.8 

June 

7, 

1912, .... 

1.7 

May 

X, 

1912 

0.9 

June 

8, 

1912 

1.1 

May 

y. 

1912 

O.fi 

1.68  Weekly  Ave. 

May 

.10, 

1912 

0.6 

June 

10, 

1912 

2.2 

May 

ii, 

1912 

0.5 

June 

11, 

1912 

2.2 

0.67  Weekly  Ave. 

June 

12, 

1912 

2.2 

May 

is, 

1912, .... 

o.s 

June 

13, 

1912 

2.6 

May 

14, 

0.8 

Juno 

14, 

1912 

2.6 

May 

15, 

0.8 

June 

15, 

1912,.... 

2.8 

May 

16, 

1912 

0.6 

2.43  Weekly  Ave. 

May 

17, 

1912 

0.0 

June 

IV, 

1912,.... 

0.0 

May 

IS, 

1912 

0.0 

June 

18, 

1912 

0.0 

0.5    Weekly  Ave. 

June 

19, 

1912, .... 

0.0 

May 

20, 

1912 

0.D 

June 

20i, 

1912 

0.2 

May 

isi, 

1912 

0.4 

June 

21, 

1912 

0.5 

May 

22, 

1912 

0.4 

June 

22, 

1912 

0.6 

May 

23, 

1912 

0.5 

0.22  Weekly  Ave. 

May 

24, 

1912 

0.6 

June 

24, 

1913, .... 

1.0 

May 

25, 

1912, .... 

O.S 

June 

25, 

1.3 

0.47  Weekly  Ave. 

June 

2«, 

1912 

0.9 

May 

27, 

1912 

1.2 

June 

27, 

1.2 

May 

23. 

1912, .... 

1.3 

1.1  4  days'  Ave. 

May 

29, 

1912 

1.3 

The  Win.  B.  Scaife  &  Sons  Company  made  mineral  analyses  of  the 
Kiskiminetas  River  at  Vandergrift  and  West  Leechburg.  The  results 
are  given  in  Table  LXI: 

TABLE  LXI. 

Chemical  Analyses   of  Kiskiminetas  River. 
Parts  per  Million. 


Determination. 


Volatile  and   Organic 

Silica,      

Iron  and   Al.   Oxide 

Calcium    Oxide 

Magnesium  Oxide 

Sodium    Oxide 

Sulphuric    Anhydride,     

Carbonic  Anhydride   (Fixed), 
Carbonic   Anhydride    (Free),. 

Chlorine 

Nitric    Anhydride,     

Calcium    Sulphate,     

Magnesium    Sulphate,    

Sodium    Sulphate,     

Sodium  Chloride,    

Sodium     Nitrate 

Iron    Sulphate 

Alumina   Sulphate,    

Acidity    as    H:S04 

Total   Solids,    

Suspended  Mntter 

Free  Carbonic  Acid 

Free   Sulphuric    Acid 

Incrusting    Solids 

Non-incrusting     Solids 


Vandergrift 
Sept.  IS,  190S. 


1?  S 
6.0 
23.1 
76.95 
27.0 
19.2 
230.2 


32.0 
17.1 

3.4 
1S6.9 
Sl.l 

5.5 
2S.2 

5.3 
30. S 
23.1 
37. S 
379.6 

2.6 
32.0 
37. S 
340.6 
39  0 


Vandergrift 
Dec.  12,  190S. 


12. S 
12.8 
42.75 

106.0 
39.3 
33.5 

346.  S 


47.0 

29.1 

2.6 

257 . 5 

ns.o 

14.9 
47.9 
4.1 
52.0 
51.6 
54.4 

571.7 
25. 65 
47.0 
54.4 

504.  S 
66.9 


Vandergrift 
Sept.  9,  1909 


6.8 
9.4 
9.4 
6S.4 
11.1 
35.6 
193.2 

1S.S 
23.9 
2,6 
166.2 
33.3 
46.2 
39.5 
4.1 


33.2 
29.4 
33S.7 
.  9.4 
IS. 8 
29.7 
242.1 
S9.S 


W.  Leechburg 
Sept.  14,  1906. 


Trace. 


3.4 
9.4. 
14.5 
44.i 
16.6 

122.4 


13.2 

7.2 

107.9 
49.8 
2.4 
11.8 


21.0 

1S9.2 

2.6 

13.2 

20.1 
1S5.0 

14.: 


243 


The  West  Leechburg  Steel  Company  collected  samples  of  the 
Kiskiminetas  River  a1  Wesl  Leechburg  and  analyzed  the  same  chemi- 
cally.   The  results  arc  given  in  Table  LXII: 

TABLE  LXII. 

Chemical   Analyses  of  Kiskiminetas  River. 

Parts  per  Million. 


:,  nation. 


Calcium  Curbounte,  .. 
Calcium  Sulphate,  ... 
Magnesium  Carbonate, 
Magnesium    suii  hate, 

Free   Sudphuric  Acid, 


W.  Leechburg 
Nov.  12,  190S. 


\\*.  l  eechburg 
July  10,  1909. 


213.0 
96.3 
12.5 

15S.7 


w.  Leechburg 

Oct.  8,   1909. 


09. 4 

367.1 

63. G 

8.4 


The  local  authorities  in  the  towns  of  the  valley  along  the  Kiski- 
minetas between  Avomnore  and  the  Allegheny  River  reported  cases 
of  typhoid  fever  to  the  State  Department  of  Health  for  the  years 
1906  to  1912,  inclusive.    These  cases  are  given  in  Table  LXIII: 

TABLE  LXIII. 

Tvphoid  Fever  Cases  Reported  for  the  Kiskiminetas  River  Valley  from  Avonmore 
to  Allegheny   River,    1906—1912,    inclusive. 


1912. 


Leechburg 

Apollo 

Avonmore,     

Vandeigrift,     

East     \  andergrift, 
\  .mil'  rgrift    Heights, 
New   Salem 


1906. 

1907. 

190S. 

1909. 

1910. 

1911. 

o 

5 

19 

14 

0 

£1 

0 

1 

0 

2 

3 

4 

0 

4 

6 

1 

0 

3 

0 

0 

0 

3 

2 

4 

0 

0 

0 

3 

0 

2 

0 

1 

3 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

3 

(b)  Along  Allegheny  River.  At  the  mouth  of  the  Kiskiminetas 
Eiver,  the  Allegheny  starts  on  the  last  stage  of  its  course  and  flows 
for  a  distance  of  about  twenty-four  miles,  with  long,  gentle  curves, 
in  a  southwesterly  direction  to  Brilliant,  eight  miles  above  its  con- 
fluence with  the  Monongahela  to  form  the  Ohio.  Along  the  last  six- 
teen miles  of  this  stretch  the  banks  of  the  river  are  continuously  set- 
tled, this  being  the  most  thickly  inhabited  section  of  the  entire  Alle- 
gheny basin,  in  the  first  part  of  this  course  the  slopes  bordering  the 
liver  are  siren,  narrow,  and  eroded,  with  rich  coal  veins  exposed 
along  the  bluffs.  Most  of  the  farms  on  this  section  are  on  the  up- 
lands which  are  well  cultivated.  The  total  population  of  this  small 
portion  of  the  Allegheny  basin  is  60,200,  divided  as  follows:  urban, 
38,950;  rural,  21250.  Tarentum,  population  7,000,  New  KensingtOon, 
population  6,S00,  and  Natrona,  population  4,500,  are  the  largest 
communities. 


244 


Two  small  water  power  installations  exist  in  this  division;  one 
at  Worthington  and  one  at  Craigsville — both  on  Buffalo  Creek  in 
the  western  part  of  Armstrong  County. 

Several  projects  for  the  improvement  of  navigation  on  the  Alle- 
gheny River  have  received  serious  consideration  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment and  a  considerable  amount  of  work  lias  been  done  under 
two  of  them.  Under  the  first — that  of  1870  and  1880 — low  dams  and 
dykes  were  constructed  lo  concentrate  the  flow  in  one  channel  and 
increase  the  depth  over  the  shoals  from  the  mouth  of  the  river  to 
Warren.  About  $203,000  were  spent  on  this  work  which  resulted  in 
making  navigation  possible  during  stages  of  the  river  from  two  to 
three  feet  lower  than  was  formerly  practicable.  At  present,  however, 
there  is  little  steam-boat  traffic  above  Kittanning.  In  1890  and 
1896,  a  project  was  adopted  by  the  Federal  Government  for  the  im- 
provement of  the  river  as  far  as  Tarentum.  This  work  involved  the 
construction  of  three  locks  and  dams  and  provides  a  slack  water 
depth  of  eight  feet.  The  cost  has  been  upwards  of  $2,000,000.  Dam 
No.  1,  at  Herr's  Island,  a  movable  dam  of  the  Chanoin  type  with 
bear-trap  weirs,  was  completed  January  1st,  1903.  Dam  No.  2,  at 
Aspinwall,  is  a  fixed  concrete  dam.  It  has  been  in  operation  since 
November,  1906.  Dam  No.  3,  at  Springdale,  a  fixed  concrete  dam, 
was  completed  in  1908. 

The  principal  industries  include  coal  mining  operations  and  the 
manufacture  of  steel  products  and  glass.  There  are  thirty -nine  coal 
mines  in  this  division  from  the  Kiskiminetas  to  the  Ohio  River.  At 
ten  of  them  the  drainage  is  pumped,  amounting  to  2,095  gallons  a 
minute.  From  the  remaining  twenty-nine  mines  the  drainage  is  by 
gravity,  amounting  to  2,950  gallons  a  minute,  or  a  total  of  5,045  gal- 
lons of  acid  mine  drainage  going  into  the  State  waters  in  this  sec- 
tion every  minute.  There  are  four  steel  and  iron  working  plants 
at  Natrona,  three  plants  at  New  Kensington,  two  at  Parnassus,  one 
at  Cheswick,  three  at  Verona  and  three  at  Oakmont.  There  are  four 
glass  plants  at  Natrona  and  Brackenridge,  one  at  Arnold  and  one 
at  Springdale.  The  Tarentum  paper  mills,  the  aluminium  plant  at 
New  Kensington,  the  Phoenix  Clay  Company  of  Parnassus,  the  Na- 
tional Lead  and  Oil  Company's  plant  at  the  same  point,  the  acid 
works  of  the  Pennsylvania  Salt  Manufacturing  Company  at  Natrona, 
and  the  Pennsylvania  Glue  Works  at  Springdale  are  all  extensive. 

About  eighty-five  miles  of  railroads  serve  this  section,  including 
branches  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio,  Bessemer  and  Lake  Erie,  Buf- 
falo, Rochester  and  Pittsburgh,  and  the  Pennsylvania,  the  latter 
company  operating  a  line  on  each  side  of  the  river  throughout  this 
division.  The  boroughs  have  public  water  supplies  and  there  are 
numerous  private  industrial  water  supplies  serving  the  larger  indus- 
tries.   Freeport  has  filtered  public  water  drawn  from  the  Allegheny 


215 


by  the  Freepiort  Water  Works  Company.  The  Guekenheimer  Dis- 
tillery there  lias  private  supplies  from  the  river  and  from  driven 
wells.  Millerstown  is  supplied  with  water  from  driven  wells  by  an 
individual  owner.  Worthington  lias  no  public  water  supply,  but  the 
<  I  rail  Woolen  Mill  uses  water  from  Buffalo  Creek  for  industrial  pur- 
poses. Natrona  is  supplied  with  spring  water  by  the  Natrona  Wa- 
ter Company,  augmented  by  a  filtered  supply  from  the  river.  The  in- 
dustrial plants  there  have  private  supplies  for  drinking  purposes, 
either  filtered  or  spring  water,  and  for  industrial  supplies  water  is 
taken  from  the  river.  Brackenridge  and  Tarentum  are  served  with 
filtered  river  water  by  the  Allegheny  Valley  Water  Company.  The 
Flaccus  Glass  Company  at  Tarentum  takes  water  for  industrial 
purposes  from  the  river.  Arnold,  New  Kensington,  and  Parnassus 
are  served  by  the  Kensington  Water  Company  from  a  filter  crib  in 
the  river.  At  New  Kensington,  private  industrial  supplies  are  drawn 
from  the  river  by  the  American  Sheet  and  Tin  Plate  Company  and 
the  Union  Spring  and  Manufacturing  Company,  and  at  Parnassus 
the  National  Lead  and  Oil  Company  uses  water  from  the  river.  The 
Springdale  Water  Company  supplies  a  few  persons  at  Springdale. 
The  borough  is  constructing  a  municipal  water  works  system,  the 
supply  being  from  driven  wells.  The  Heidenkamp  Mirror  Company 
secures  industrial  water  from  the  river.  At  Cheswick,  the  Cheswick 
Water  Company  supplies  a  portion  of  the  inhabitants  with  water 
from  a  drilled  well.  Oakmont  and  Verona  are  supplied  with  water 
by  the  Suburban  Water  Company,  whose  supply  is  derived  from  filter 
cribs  in  the  river.  The  water  supply  of  Pittsburgh  is  taken  from  the 
river  at  Montrose  and  at  Aspjinwall.  At  Nadine  the  Pennsylvania 
Water  Company  draws  water  from  filter  cribs  in  the  bed  of  the  river 
and  supplies  it  to  a  population  of  about  70,000  persons  living  in 
the  suburbs  of  Pittsburgh  and  the  adjoining  boroughs  in  Turtle 
Creek  valley,  the  water  first  being  subjected  to  mechanical  filtra- 
tion. 

The  State  Fish  Commission  has  stocked  this  section  of  the  Alle- 
gheny River  with  yellow  perch,  pickerel,  pike  perch,  and  bass;  the 
Big  Buffalo  Creek  with  trout,  bass,  pickerel,  and  yellow  perch;  the 
Little  Buffalo  Creek  with  yellow  perch  and  trout,  and  the  Pucketta 
Creek  with  trout,  bass,  and  yellow  perch. 

In  Table  LXIV  which  follows  are  given  some  chemical  analyses 
of  the  Allegheny  River  water  at  Natrona,  Tarentum,  Braeburn,  and 
New  Kensington. 


246 


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248 


In  Table  LXV,  the  chemical  analyses  of  the  Allegheny  River  at 
Springdale,  Oakmont  and  Verona  are  shown.  The  work  was  per- 
formed in  the  Laboratory  of  Wm.  B.  Scaife  &  Sons  Company.  These 
places  are  lower  down  the  river  than  the  towns  mentioned  in  Table 
LXIV.  On  June  0,  1906,  at  Springdale,  manganese  carbonate  was  de- 
termined to  be  7.7  parts,  manganese  oxide  4.8;  at  Oakmont  on  Au- 
gust 24th,  1900,  magnesium  sulphate  was  determined  to  be  44.6 
parts;  and  at  Verona,  on  December  7th,  1906,  magnesium  nitrate 
was  determined  to  be  2.4  parts  in  a  million. 

In  Table  LXVI  are  given  chemical  analyses  of  the  Allegheny  River 
still  further  down  the  river  at  Nadine  and  Pittsburg  with  .mention 
of  the  laboratories  where  the  determinations  were  made. 

In  Table  LXVII  are  given  chemical  analyses  of  the  Allegheny 
River  at  Pittsburgh  throughout  the  year  1907. 


249 


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251 


TABLE  LXVIII. 

Chemical  Analyses  of  the  Allegheny  River  Water  after  being  Filtered   for  Public 
Consumption  at  AspinwaU — Pittsburgh. 

Parts  per  Million. 


IV  terminations. 


Volatile  and  Organic 

Silica,    

Iron  :mU  Aluminium  Oxide, 

Calc  una    Oxide 

Magnesium   Oxide 

Sodium    Oxide,    

Sulphuric    Anhydride 

Carbonic    Anhydride    (Fixed) 
Carbonic    Anhydride    (F 

Chlorine,    

Nitric    Anhydride 

Calcium    Carbonate 

Calcium   Sulphate 

Magnesium    Sulphate 

Magnesium    Chloride,     

Sodium    Chloride 

Alkalinity 

Total    Solids 

Suspended    Matter , 

Pree   Carbonic    Acid,    

1 1  •■;  listing    Solids 

Ni  n-incrustiug    Solids, 


By  Wm.   B.  Sni iff  &  Sons 
Company  Laboratory. 


Partially 

Wholly 

Filtered. 

B" 

Itered. 

Sept.  11,  190S. 

Apr 

12 

L909. 

9.4 

20.4 

6.0 

6.C 

.OS 

Trace. 

47.9 

24.0 

13.5 

3.i 

G.l 

6.5 

49.  D 

15.4 

18.8 

11.2 

3.8 

1.9 

29.1 

12.0 

Trai-i'. 

Trace. 

42.7 

25. C 

58.1 

23.3 

22.6 

2.6 

11.4 

i 

6.0 

30.1 

12.3 

42.7 

25.6 

1st. 2 

93.6 

4.3 

Trace. 

3.8 

1.9 

154.1 

63.4 

30.1 

12.3 

At  Freeport  domestic  sewage  is  contributed  directly  or  indirectly 
by  the  entire  population  of  about  2,000  persons  and  industrial 
w  ;:stes  of  minor  importance  by  the  Pennsylvania  Distillery  Com- 
pany and  the  Guckenheimer  Distillery.  At  Millerstown  about  1,200 
persons  contribute  sewage  pollution.  Worthington  contributes  the 
sewage  of  about  seventy-five  persons  and  manufactural  wastes  from 
the  Graff  Woolen  Mill.  These  wastes  include  water  from  the  dye 
tanks  and  wool  scourings,  the  plant  using  about  228,000  pounds  of 
wool  annually  in  the  manufacture  of  blankets.  Natrona  contributes 
the  sewage  of  about  2,000  persons  and  manufactural  wastes  from 
the  Pennsylvania  Salt  Manufacturing  Company.  This  plant  manu- 
factures sulphuric,  muriatic  and  nitric  acids,  hydrate  of  alum- 
inium, sulphate  of  soda,  copperas,  and  sal-soda.  The  liquid  wastes 
amount  to  about  150,000  gallons  daily.  They  contain  iron  and  soda 
in  solution.  Brackenridge  pollutes  the  river  with  the  sewage  of 
practically  all  of  its  population  of  2,500  persons.  At  Tarentum 
the  sewage  of  about  7,000,  the  entire  population,  pollutes  the  river, 
either  directly  or  indirectly.  The  Pittsburgh  Plate  Glass  Com- 
pany's Plant  discharges  into  the  river  industrial  wastes  that  con- 
tain some  oxide  of  iron  and  muriatic  acid  in  solution,  and  from  the 
Tarentum  Paper  Mills  about  2,000,000  gallons  of  water  daily  con- 
taining spent  solutions  of  chloride  of  lime  and  soda  are  discharged 
into  the  i  i\  «r.     A1  A  i  nol<l  the  river  receives  the  direct  or  indirect 


252 


pollution  of  about  1,200  of  the  inhabitants.  New  Kensington  dis- 
charges the  sewage  from  practically  its  entire  population  of  6,800 
into  the  river.  At  New  Kensington  also  the  "Pittsburgh"  Plant  of 
the  American  Sheet  &  Tin  Plate  Company  discharges  daily  about 
6,300  gallons  of  acid  liquor  from  the  pickling  vats  and  the  "Penn- 
sylvania" plant  of  the  same  company  discharges  similar  acid  liquor 
to  the  river.  These  acid  wastes  come  from  the  galvanizing  plant 
where  sulphuric  and  hydrochloric  acids  are  used.  At  Parnassus,  the 
sewage  of  about  1,500  persons  (nearly  three-quarters  of  the  popu- 
lation) pollutes  the  river,  together  with  manufactural  wastes  from 
the  National  Lead  ik  Oil  Company's  Plant,  amounting  to  5,000  gal- 
lons a  day  of  waste  water  containing  a  trace  of  lead  and  some  acetic 
acid.  At  Springdale,  about  1,000  persons  (two  fifths  of  the  popula- 
tion) discharge  sewage  into  the  river.  The  Pennsylvania  Glue  Com- 
pany's Plant  here,  discharges  wastes  from  a  sedimentation  tank  in 
which  there  is  an  effort  made  to  intercept  grease  and  suspended 
matter.  The  effluent  is  thoroughly  impregnated  with  lime.  Ches- 
wick  discharges  into  the  river  the  sewage  of  about  300  persons.  Oak- 
mont,  with  3,400  population,  has  a  sewer  system  serving  most  of  the 
people.  The  entire  population  of  Verona,  2,700  persons,  is  connected 
with  the  sewer  system  which  discharges  into  the  river.  The  Allegheny 
City  Home,  and  the  adjoining  institution — the  Allegheny  County 
Workhouse — at  Claremont,  or  Warner  Station,  have  erected  and  are 
operating  sewage  disposal  works.  They  treat  all  the  sewage  from 
these  two  places,  which  represent  about  1,500  persons. 

As  previously  stated,  from  the  thirty-nine  coal  mines  in  this  di- 
vision of  the  basin,  there  is  a  total  of  5.045  gallons  a  minute  of  acid 
mine  drainage  discharge  into  State  waters. 

The  survey  of  the  district,  in  detail,  will  be  taken  up  in  the  fol- 
lowing order;  Freeport,  Millerstown,  Worthington,  Natrona,  Brack- 
enridge,  Tarentum,  Arnold,  New  Kensington,  Parnassus,  Springdale, 
Cheswick,  Oakmont,  Verona,   and  Claremont. 

Freeport,  Armstrong  County,  is  a  borough,  with  a  population  of 
about  2,000,  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Allegheny  River  just  below  the 
mouth  of  the  Kiskiminetas  River  in  the  extreme  southwestern  corner 
of  Armstrong  County.  Buffalo  Creek  forms  the  western  boundary 
of  the  borough,  the  land  along  the  creek  and  river  being  compara- 
tively flat  and  about  fifteen  feet  above  low  water,  back  of  which  the 
surface  rises  to  an  elevation  of  about  200  feet  higher.  The  borough 
has  one  large  industry,  the  Guckenheimer  Distillery,  located  on  an 
island  in  the  river  and  giving  employment  to  165  men.  The  Penn- 
sylvania Distillery  Company  also  operates  a  small  distillery  just 
west  of  the  borough.  The  Freeport  Milling  Company  operates  a 
planing  mill  and  flour  mill  employing  about  fifteen  hands.  Water 
for  public  use  is  supplied  by  the  Freeport  Water  Works  Company, 

253 
17 


a  private  corporation  taking  water  from  two  cribs  in  the  Allegheny 
River.  Under  a  permit  issued  by  the  Commissioner  of  Health  on 
Sept.  2nd.  1908,  a  gravity  filter  plant  was  installed  for  the  nitration 
of  the  entire  supply.  Owing  to  the  had  condition  of  the  river  water, 
many  springs  and  wells,  prior  to  1900.  supplied  a  large  portion  of 
the  drinking  water  used  in  the  community.  The  Guckenheimer  Dis- 
tillery takes  a  private  supply  from  the  Allegheny  River  for  boiler 
purposes  and  uses  water  from  a  series  of  driven  wells  tor  manufac- 
turing purposes,  while  the  Freeport  water  works  supplv  N  used  lor 
fire  protection.  The  borough  is  equipped  with  a  combined  sewer  sys- 
tem which  drains  one  half  of  the  municipal  area.  There  are  five  out- 
lets, two  into  Buffalo  Creek  and  three  into  the  river,  beside  which 
there  are  fourteen  or  more  private  sewers.  Abour  1,300  persons  are 
served  by  these  sewers,  the  remaining  population  using  earth,  vault 
privies,  of  which  there  are  over  three  hundred  in  th-3  borough.  Many 
of  these  are  in  close  proximity  to  the  wells  and  springs  used  for 
drinking  water,  which  together  with  the  use  of  unpurified  river 
water  would  readily  account  for  the  general  prevalence  of  typhoid 
in  the  past.  Typhoid  records  are  not  thoroughly  reliable  owing  to 
the  failure  on  the  part  of  the  physicians  to  report  cases,  but  there 
appear  to  have  been  at  least  from  fifteen  to  thirty  cases  annually 
during  the  past  ten  years  except  1907,  during  which  year  twenty- 
two  deaths  were  recorded,  indicating  200  to  300  cases.  A  permit  was 
issued  to  the  borough  by  the  Commissioner  of  Health  on  September 
18,  1908,  for  the  construction  of  certain  sewer  extensions. 

In  this  sewerage  permit  of  190S,  the  following  statements  were 
made  by  the  Commissioner  of  Health: 

"The  general  prevalence  of  the  disease  from  year  to  year  is  evidently  due  to  the 
pollution  of  the  drinking  water  of  the  community.  While  the  water  furnished  by 
the  water  company  is  highly  contaminated  by  sewage,  yet  on  account  of  the  wide- 
spread use  of  spring  and  well  water  in  the  borough  taken  from  sources  which  are 
in  proximity  to  privy  vaults  and  cesspools,  such  water  should  bo  viewed  with 
suspicion  also.  The  water  works  company  contemplates  the  installation  of  a 
high  grade  filter  plant,  and  plans  therefor  arc  now  under  consideration  by  the 
State  Department  of  Health.  The  construction  and  operation  of  this  filter  plant 
may  not  reduce  the  typhoid  fever  to  a  sufficiently  low  rate  owing  to  the  use  of  the 
said  well  and  spring  waters.  Therefore,  the  borough  officials  should  co-operate  by 
making  a  rigid  inspection  of  the  private  water  sources  in  the  borough.  The  existence 
of  so  many  earth  closets  is  a  menace.  One  remedy  is  the  construction  of  sowers 
and  compulsory  connection  therewith.  The  borough  contemplates  affording  this 
remedy. 

"In  addition  to  the  sewers  which  have  been  constructed  by  the  borough  since 
April,  1905,  and  enumerated  hereinbefore,  the  borough  purposes  to  build  extensions 
in  the  immediate  future  along  streets  whore  paving  is  to  bo  done.  Those  sowers  are 
planned  to  carry  storm  and  roof  water  in  addition  to  the  sewage  and  are  to  be 
connected  with  the  existing  system.  The  borough  desires  to  lay  three  hundred 
and  seventy-five  feet  of  fifteen  inch  sewer  on  Sixth  Street  between  Market  and 
High  Streets;  three  hundred  and  sixty  feet  of  eighteen  inch  sewer  on  Washington 
Street  from  Fifth  to  Stewart;  four  hundred  and  fifty  feet  of  fifteen  inch  sewer 
on  Stewart  Street  from  Washington  Street  north;  all  of  which  discharge  through 
the  Fifth  Street  outfall  sewer  into  the  Allegheny  River.  There  is  also  a  section 
of  three  hundred  and  seventy-five  feet  of  fifteen  inch  sewer  extending  from  Higb 
Street  to  Market  Street  on  Third  Street  and  discharging  through  the  First  Street 
outfall  sewer  into  the  Allegheny  River.  The  petitioners  state  that  they  have 
advertised  for  this  work  in  connection  with  street  paving  and  are  anxious  to  place 
it  in  the  ground  before  paving  is  begun.  The  total  length  of  the-  extensions  is 
fifteen  hundred  and  sixty  and  they  will  drain  twenty  additional  house  connections. 

254 


"The  borough  of  Frceport  is  supplied  with  water,  so  it  is  seen,  from  the  Alle- 
gheny River  which  is  polluted  with  sewage  from  various  towns  and  boroughs  Located 
above  the  intake.  The  nearest  borough  above  the  Freeport  Water  Works  is  Ford 
City,  which  is  distant  only  ten  miles  and  whose  sewage  is  discharged  into  the 
Allegheny  Itiver.  The  Department  of  Health  has  recently  granted  a  permit  to 
Ford  City  to  discharge  its  sewage  and  to  extend  its  system  only  under  condition 
that  plans  for  a  separate  system  of  sewers  and  sewage  disposal  plant,  be  prepared 
and  submitted  to  the  Department  of  Health  for  approval  in  the  immediate  future. 
This  policy  of  the  Department  has  also  been  carried  out  in  the  ease  of  the  boroughs 
of  Tarentum,  Brackenridge,  and  Natrona,  located  immediately  below  Freeport 
and  contaminating  the  Allegheny  Itiver  with  sewage.  The  borough  of  Freeport 
should,  therefore,  expect  to  co-operate  with  this  policy  of  the  Department  in 
protecting  the  purity  of  the  water  supply  of  the  various  municipalities  along  the 
Allegheny  and  Ohio  River,  more  especially  since  its  sewage  is  discharged  into  the 
river  at  a  point  six  miles  above  the  water  works  intake  at  Tarentum  by  means  of 
which  residents  of  Harrison  Township,  Brackenridge,  and  Tarentum  boroughs  are 
supplied  with  drinking  water. 

"It  appears,  if  reports  be  true,  that  the  municipal  borrowing  capacity  within 
the  seven  per  cent,  limit  of  indebtedness  is  $12,000,  taking  into  account  .the  present 
assessed  valuation  and  indebtedness.  Therefore,  the  borough  is  not  in  a  position 
to  assume  the  expense  of  erecting  sewage  disposal  works  or  to  eliminate  the  storm 
water  from  existing  sewers.  The  cost  of  disposing  of  sewage  mixed  with  storm  and 
roof  water  is  prohibitive  and  it  will  be  necessary  for  the  borough  to  change  its 
sewer  system  to  some  extent.  It  would  be  better  to  'exclude  all  roof  and  storm 
water  and  to  carry  sewage  only  to  the  disposal  plant,  but  it  may  be  found  that 
a  portion  of  the  roof  and  street  water  may  be  permitted  to  continue  to  flow  into 
the  sewers  after  the  sewage  disposal  plant  shall  have  been  erected.  This  is  a 
question  of  engineering  which  needs  to  be  carefully  studied  by  some  expert  em- 
ployed by  the  borough,  and  the  State  Department  of  Health  will  be  glad  to  further 
advise  with  respect  to  such  study.  It  appears  that  it  is  necessary  that  there  should 
be  storm  sewers  in  the  low  district  of  the  borough  to  avoid  washouts  from  the 
hillsides.  With  the  existence  of  two  outlets  within  four  hundred  feet  of  each 
other  at  Fourth  and  Fifth  Streets,  it  should  be  possible  at  little  expense  to  remodel 
the  system  so  as  to  discharge  the  storm  water  from  one  of  these  outlets  and  use  the 
other  solely  for  sanitary  sewage." 


The  borough  subsequently  submitted  for  approval  plans  for  a  sew- 
age disposal  works  and  in  a  decree  relative  thereto,  issued  by  the 
Commissioner  of  Health  on  July  11,  1912,  the  following  discussion 
may  be  found. 

"In  carrying  out  a  consistent  policy  relative  to  sewerage  applying  to  municipalities 
throughout  the  State,  the  Commissioner  of  Health,  in  the  permit  issued  September 
18,  1908,  required  that  the  borough  of  Freeport  prepare  a  comprehensive  sanitary 
sewerage  plan  to  cover  the  entire  borough  and  to  provide  for  the  concentration  of  all 
the  sewage  for  treatment  in  suitably  designed  and  located  disposal  works.  With 
such  an  approved  plan  to  follow,  the  borough  would  then  be  in  a  position  to 
construct  any  or  all  such  sewers  as  may  be  desired  from  time  to  time  without  making 
application  for  further  permits  and  have  assurance  that  no  portions  of  the  system 
will  need  to  be  reconstructed  when  additional  territory  shall  need  to  be  sewered 
or  when  treatment  of  the  sewage  shall  become  necessary.  The  advantages  and 
economies  to  be  derived  from  such  a  comprehensive  plan  are  manifest. 

"No  comprehensive  plan  has  been  submitted  and  the  Department  therefore  does 
not  know  how  the  sewage  is  to  be  concentrated  at  the  proposed  site  for  the  dis- 
posal works.  Moreover,  the  suitability  of  the  disposal  site  is  open  to  question 
since  from  the  evidence  at  hand  it  is  apparently  too  close  to  the  settled  portions  of  the 
borough.  The  type  of  plant  selected  is  not  suited  to  the  particular  needs  of  the 
borough  of  Freeport  since  a  much  less  expensive  plant  would  doubtless  give  satis- 
factory results. 

"The  services  of  an  expert  engineer  should  be  at  once  secured  by  the  borough 
to  prepare  a  comprehensive  sewerage  plan  for  the  entire  borough  area,  including 
means  for  collecting  all  of  the  sewage  contributed  by  the  borough  for  some  years 
to  come  and  conveying  it  to  a  proper  site  for  disposal,  and  plans  for  disposal 
works.  The  Department  will  gladly  advise  with  the  engineer  in  the  preparation 
of  the  comprehensive  plans  and  in  selecting  the  type  of  disposal  works  and  the  site 
upon  which  they  are  to  be  located,  and  will  lend  any  assistance  in  its  power  to 
the  end   that  the  borough  may   secure  the   proper  solution   of  its  problem. 

"The  proposed  sewer  in  Washington  Street  seems  adaptable  to  such  a  compre- 
hensive plan  and  economy  dictates  that  it  should  be  constructed  at  the  present 
time  before  the  street  shall  be  paved.  Under  the  circumstances  approval  should  be 
given  of  the  construction  of  the  sewer  but  permission  to  connect  with  and  use  the 
sewer  should  be  temporarily  withheld." 


Zoo 


Iu  the  water  decree  of  1008,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  had  the 
following  things  to  say: 

"The  company  supplies  500,000  gallons  of  water  per  day,  of  which  300,000  gallons 
are  used  for  industrial  purposes.  The  railroad  company  at  Freeport  Junction  is 
the  largest  consumer. 

"Practically  every  house  in  the  borough  is  connected  to  the  water  mains  and  in 
addition  the  settlement  at  Freeport  Junction  and  also  that  in  South  Buffalo  Town- 
ship immediately  east  of  the  borough  are  generally  supplied  by  the  company. 

"The  water  furnished  by  company  is,  however,  not  used  generally  for  drinking 
purposes.  There  is  a  prejudice  against  the  use  of  this  water  due  to  its  being  taken 
directly  from  the  Allegheny"  River,  which  is  highly  polluted,  and  also  to  the  muddy 
condition  of  the  water  during  the  rlood  stages  of  the  river.  The  people  in  the 
borough  use  several  springs  which  outcrop  at  various  points  in  the  borough  be- 
tween the  ridge  and  the  river,  and  probably  a  dozen  dug  wells.  These  wells  range 
from  four  to  six  feet  in  diameter  and  go  to  a  depth  of  thirty  feet  where  the  bottom 
is  about  on  a  level  with  the  river  bed.  The  wells  are  lined  with  dry  rubble  field 
stone. 

"The  existing  water  works  system  consists  of  a  pumping  station  located  on  the 
Allegheny  River  about  three  quarters  of  a  mile  above  the  borough  proper  and  one 
thousand  feet  from  the  borough  line,  in  South  Buffalo  Township;  three  storage 
tanks  with  a  total  capacity  of  250,000  gallons  located  on  the  ridge  at  the  eastern 
edge  of  the  borough  immediately  on  the  borough  line;  and  six  miles  of  supply  mains 
ranging  in  size  from  three  inches  to  ten  inches. 

"When  the  water  works  were  first  constructed  in  188S  water  was  taken  from  the 
river  at  a  pump  station  located  on  the  main  land  near  the  eastern  end  of  Todd's 
Island.  In  1892  this  pump  house  was  abandoned  and  the  existing  pump  house  was 
constructed. 

'Water  is  taken  from  the  Allegheny  River  at  this  pumping  station  through  two 
wooden  cribs  located  six  feet  below  the  river  bed  and  covered  with  sand  and  gravel. 
These  cribs  are  located  fifty  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  from  the  river  bank,  re- 
spectively. The  crib  nearer  the  bank  of  the  river  is  fifteen  feet  by  thirty  feet  by 
five  feet  deep  and  is  connected  with  the  pumps  by  a  twelve  inch'  suction  line  of 
flanged  pipe.  The  other  crib  is  sixty-five  feet  by  fifteen  feet  by  four  and  a  half 
feet  deep  and  is  connected  by  an  eight  inch  wrought-iron  pipe  line.  During  low 
water  periods  the  crib  nearer  the  bank  is  out  of  service. 

"The  proposed  filtration  plant  is  to  be  located  immediately  above  the  existing 
storage  tanks  near  the  crest  of  the  hill.  It  is  proposed  to  install  these  filters  in 
two  units  each  with  a  capacity  of  500,000  gallons  and  also  to  construct  on  top 
of  the  crest  a  settling  tank  having  a  capacity  of  100,000  gallons.  A  coagulant  pump 
and  chemical  mixing  apparatus  are  to  be  located  at  the  existing  pumping  station  for 
introducing  a  coagulant  into  the  force  main. 

"A  by-pass  line  is  provided  around  the  filters,  so  that  the  water  from  the  settling 
basin  can  be  introduced  directly  into  the  storage  reservoir  without  passing  through 
the  filters.  The  Greer  Filter  Company,  who  have  prepared  the  plans  for  the  filter 
plant  and  propose  to  install  the  same,  have  guaranteed  a  bacterial  reduction  of 
not  less  than  98  per  cent,  when  the  bacteria  in  the  unfiltered  water  are  3,000  or 
more  per  c.c,  and  that  when  the  number  is  less  than  3,000,  the  average  number 
in  the  filtered  water  shall  not  exceed  one  hundred  per  c.c,  and  shall  meet  the 
requirements  of  the  State  Board  of  Health.  They  propose  to  furnish  with  the 
filter  plant  a  field  equipment  of  testing  apparatus  and  chemicals  for  making  tests 
of  the  raw  and  filtered  water  and  to  instruct  the  operator  how  to  make  the 
necessary  tests. 

"In  order  to  obtain  the  full  capacity  of  the  storage  tanks,  a  float  and  valve  are 
to  be  provided  on  the  smaller  tank  which  will  automatically  close  the  inlet  when  it 
is  full  and  allow  the  other  two  tanks  to  fill  to  their  full  capacity. 

"The  continued  prevalence  of  typhoid  fever  at  Freeport  demands  the  installation 
of  a  proper  water  purification  plant.  While  there  is  at  present  some  reduction 
in  the  number  of  bacteria  due  to  infiltration  through  the  cribs  at  the  intake  and 
through  subsidence  in  the  storage  reservoirs,  yet  it  is  absolutely  necessary  to 
safeguard  the  public  health  of  this  community  that  an  efficient  filter  plant  should 
be  installed  which  will  be  operated  in  an  intelligent  and  careful  manner.  It  is  to 
be  noted  that  the  water  works  company  realizes  that  this  will  be  a  profitable  in- 
vestment, as  it  will  increase  the  domestic  consumption  and  will  probably  eliminate 
the  use  of  the  wells  and  springs  which  are  now  in  constant  use  for  drinking  pur- 
poses and  are  not  above  suspicion.  The  water  company  has  voluntarily  submitted 
this  application  for  the  approval  of  a  filtration  plant  and  should  receive  the  support 
of  the  borough  officials  in  its  efforts  to  furnish  a  pure  supply. 

"The  facilities  for  fire  protection  in  a  large  portion  of  the  borough  appear  to  be 
inadequate.  Through  the  centre  of  the  borough  the  hydrants  are  connected  to  the 
six  inch  supply  mains  and  are  sufficiently  close  together  to  furnish  ample  protection 
in  time  of  fire.  In  other  sections  of  the  borough  there  are  many  hydrants  connected 
with  three  and  four  inch  mains  and  spaced  eight  hundred  feet  apart,  so  that  during 
a  severe  fire  if  would  be  difficult  to  supply  a  sufficient  amount  of  water.  It  would 
be  advisable  CO  increase  the  fire  protection,  either  by  constructing  larger  mains 
iii  these  distjicts  or  by  installing  hydrants  at  more  frequent  intervals. 

25G 


"The  plans  submitted  con  tern  pi  a  ted  the  by-passing  of  raw  river  water  around  the 
filter  plant  at  intervals.     As  stated   above  there  are   three  methods  of  by-passing 

water  around  the  filters  and  by  one  of  tlic.se.  t.  goes  directly  into  the  mains  without 
any  sedimentation  or  storage.  Such  by-passes  are  a  menace  to  a  water  supply  when 
the  source  of  supply  is  con  bun  in  sited  ;uid  should  be  used  only  in  the  case  of  ti 
great  emergency.  When  so  used  all  consumers  should  be  Dotified  in  advance  and 
advised  to  boil  their  drinking  water. 

"Tbe  plans  of  the  filters  as  submitted  should  furnish  a  plant  of  the  highest  type 
of  efficiency,  if  intelligently  operated.  It  is  advisable  in  the  installation  of  a  filtra- 
tion plant  that  the  expert  who  installs  it  shall  be  entrusted  with  the  general 
supervision  of  the  plant  for  at  least  one  year  after  installation  or  some  one  equally 
competent,  in  order  that  he  may  be  fully  responsible-  for  the  efficiency.  It  is 
impossible  to  allow  a  plant  to  be  operated  by  one  who  is  entirely  ignorant  of 
filtration  without  impairing  the  efficiency.  It  will  probably  be  necessary  to  cover 
the  storage  reservoirs  to  prevent  growths  of  algae." 

Millerstown  (Chicora  P.  O.),  Butler  County,  is  a  borough  with  a 
population  of  1,200,  situated  at  the  head  waters  of  Buffalo  Creek  in 
the  east  central  part  of  Butler  County.  The  only  industries  noted 
are  a  grist  mill  and  the  Chicora  Whip  Company,  the  latter  plant 
employing  about  twenty  persons.  Drilled  wells  owned  by  H.  A.  Leo- 
pold supply  the  public  with  water,  there  being  three  wells  within 
the  borough  limits  from  which  water  is  pumped  to  a  reservoir. 
Water  is  supplied  to  the  B.  &  O.  Railroad  from  a  spring  of  doubt- 
ful character,  and  is  used  for  the  engines,  though  it  is  doubtless  oc- 
casionally used  for  drinking  purpjoses.  There  is  no  public  sanitary 
sewer  system,  but  there  are  two  storm  sewers  eighteen  inches  in 
diameter  receiving  surface  water  only.  There  are  also  a  number  of 
private  sewers  discharging  to  Buffalo  Creek.  Practically  the  entire 
population  contributes  sewage  pollution  either  directly  or  indirectly. 

Worthington,  Armstrong  County,  is  a  borough  with  a  population 
of  500,  situated  on  Buffalo  Creek  about  seven  miles  west  of  Kittan- 
ning.  Buffalo  Creek  flows  approximately  parallel  to  the  river 
through  the  western  part  of  Allegheny  County  and  enters  the  river 
at  Freeport.  The  borough  of  Worthington  has  but  one  industry, 
the  woolen  mill  of  Peter  Graff  &  Company,  employing  fifty  hands  in 
the  manufacture  of  wool  blankets.  They  manufacture  38,000  pairs 
of  blankets  annually,  using  228,000  pounds  of  wools.  The  water 
supply  consists  of  individual  wells  and  springs,  the  woolen  mill 
using  some  water  from  Buffalo  Creek  for  industrial  purposes  and 
some  from  a  mountain  spring.  There  is  no  public  sewer  system, 
privies  being  in  general  use  and  kitchen  wastes  discharging  to  the 
ground.  There  are  a  few  private  individual  sewers.  The  indus- 
trial wastes  from  the  woolen  mills  include  waste  water  from  dye 
tanks  and  from  scourings. 

Natrona,  Harrison  Township,  Allegheny  County,  is  a  village  with 
a  population  of  about  4,500.  Tt  is  situated  on  the  west  bank  of  the 
Allegheny  River  about  twenty-four  miles  from  its  mouth.  It  ex- 
tends along  the  river  to  the  northern  boundary  of  the  borough  of 
Brackenridge.     It  is  an  industrial  community  built  up  originally 


257 


around  the  works  of  the  Pennsylvania  Salt  Company,  upon  which 
it  is  chiefly  dependent.  The  oilier  important  industries  are  three 
plants  of  the  Allegheny  Steel  Company  employing  1,550  men,  and 
the  Western  Tool  and  Forge  Company  near  the  Brackenridge  line 
with  100  employees.  A  portion  of  the  village  was  formerly  supplied 
with  water  by  the  Tarentum  Water  Company,  but  the  greater  por- 
tion of  the  population  is  now  served  by  the  newly  incorporated  Na- 
trona Water  Company  which  derives  its  supply  from  a  number  of 
springs.  Occasional  shortage  in  this  supply  had  led  to  the  installing 
of  a  half  million  gallon  mechanical  filter  whereby  river  water  is  puri- 
fied and  used  to  augment  the  spring  water  supply.  The  Commis- 
sioner of  Health  on  December  16,  1908,  issued  a  permit  for  the*  use 
of  this  filtered  supply.  A  few  of  the  inhabitants  still  depend  on 
springs  for  drinking  water.  The  industrial  plants  have  private  sup- 
plies for  drinking  purposes  (either  filtered  or  spring  water!  and 
have  private  industrial  supplies  taken  from  the  river.  There  are  a 
number  of  sewers  in  the  village,  public  and  private,  which  receive 
sewage  from  probably  one  half  the  population  discharging  it  by  way 
of  six  outlets.  These  sewers  receive  also  surface  drainage  and  manu- 
factural  wastes  from  the  industrial  plants.  Plans  for  municipal 
sewerage  were  submitted  to  the  Commissioner  of  Health  and  on 
July  17,  1907,  a  decree  was  issued  by  him  withholding  approval  of 
the  proposed  plans  and  requiring  that  new  plans  be  prepared  pro- 
viding for  the  collection  and  purification  of  all  the  sewage  of  the 
village.  The  various  companies  from  whose  plants  sewage  was  dis- 
charged into  the  river  were  notified  to  provide  some  other  method 
of  disposal,  preferably  by  connection  to  the  proposed  township  sew- 
erage system  and  sewage  disposal  works.  At  the  works  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Salt  Manufacturing  Company  making  sulphuric  muriatic, 
and  nitric  acid,  hydrate  of  aluminium,  copperas,  sulphate  of  soda, 
and  sal-soda,  the  solid  wastes  are  handled  on  the  premises.  liquid 
wastes  amounting  to  about  150,000  gallons  daily  and  containing 
iron  and  soda  in  solution  are  discharged  into  the  river. 

The  decree  of  1907  contained  among  other  things  the  following 
statements  by  the  Commissioner  of  Health : 

"The  petitioners  represent  that  the  proposed  plans  for  a  municipal  sewer  system 
were  adopted  in  1903  and  it  appears  from  the  general  plan  submitted  that  the 
sewers  are  to  range  in  sizes  from  ten  inches  to  five  feet  in  diameter,  that  they 
are  to  receive  both  sewage  and  storm  water  and  are  designed  to  drain  the  hillsides 
and  the  flats  in  the  built  up  part  of  the  village  from  Sycamore  Avenue  northerly 
and  also  to  intercept  the  flow  from  all  existing  public  and  private  sewers  and  culverts 
in  the  village  north  of  said  Sycamore  Street,  excepting  the  Salt  Company's  four 
foot  sewer  and  the  lower  portion  of  the  stone  culvert.  The  point  of  discharge 
into  the  Allegheny  River  of  the  proposed  system  is  opposite  the  foot  of  Sycamore 
Steeet,  the  outlet  being  a  four  by  five  foot  structure  carried  to  low  water. 

"If  the  reports  are  accurate,  the  assessed  valuation  of  property  in  the  township 
is  $219,820  only.  It  is  also  reported  that  there  is  a  bonded  indebtedness  and  that  the 
Commissioners  have  a  fund  of  about  $5,000  in  the  treasury.  Hence,  under  these 
conditions,    the    borrowing    capacity    is    in    the    neighborhood    of    $15,000.      Thus 

258 


limited  by  the  constitution,  the  utmost  prudence  in  the  expenditure  of  the  public 
funds  is  called  for  to  assure  the  distribution  of  the  benefits;  of  a  public  sanitary  im- 
provement to  the  greatest  number.  A  general  combined  sewer  system  cannot 
be  built  for  the  money  now  available,  but  a  small  pipe  system  for  the  reception  of 
sewage  only  might  possibly  be  built  under  some  equitable  plan  of  sewer  assessment, 
such  as  is  provided  by  law. 

"The  proximity  of  municipalities  on  the  Allegheny  River  below  Natrona,  coupled 
with  the  fact  that  at  eight  different  places  within  seventeen  miles,  water  is  drawn 
from  the  river  and  used  as  a  source  of  public  supply,  renders  the  problem  oi  sewage 
disposal  at  Natrona  one  of  wide-spread  concern  relative  to  public  health. 

"Some  of  the  places  below  Natrona  supplied  with  Allegheny  River  water  are  as 
follows: 

"Tarentum,  distance  one  and  five-tenths  miles;  New  Kensington,  three  and 
five-tenths  miles;  Parnassus,  four  and  five-tenths  miles;  Oakmont,  eleven  miles; 
Verona,  thirteen  miles;  Montrose  (Allegheny  City  intake),  thirteen  and  five-tenths 
miles;  Pennsylvania  Water  Company,  fifteen  miles,  and  Pittsburgh,  seventeen 
miles. 

"Strikingly  significant  are  the  facts  with  respect  to  the  prevalence  of  typhoid  fever 
in  the  Tarentum  Water  Company's  district.  In  the  borough  of  Tarentum,  which 
is  much  larger  than  the  village  of  Natrona,  during  1906,  there  were  110  cases  of 
typhoid  fever  reported  and  for  the  first  five  months  in  1907,  46  cases.  In  the 
borough  of  Erackenridge,  from  which  reports  are  very  incomplete,  the  disease  is 
known  to  have  been  common.  This  has  not  excited  local  attention  probably  because 
typhoid  is  present  the  year  round. 

"During  the  last  part  of  1905,  typhoid  was  epidemic  in  Natrona  village,  and 
of  30  cases  attended  by  one  physician,  twenty-six  were  on  the  Tarentum  supply 
and  four  originated  out  of  town.  The  same  physician  attended  ten  cases  during 
1906,  all  in  the  village  and  on  the  Tarentum  supply,  with  one  exception.  It  is 
said  that  not  a  single  case  of  this  water  borne  disease  has  been  traced  to  or  charged 
against  the  spring  water  supplied  to  the  northern  half  of  the  village  by  the  Salt 
Company's  system. 

"The  sewers  now  existing  in  the  village  deliver  their  pollutions  into  the  river 
immediately  above  the  point  from  which  the  water  is  drawn  out  of  the  river  and 
conveyed  to  the  consumers  in  the  south  part  of  the  village  to  be  used  for  domestic 
purposes.  Hence  the  township  authorities  are  concerned  with  respect  to  the  removal 
of  this  menace  to  the  township's  water  supply.  Notwithstanding  this  fact,  the 
proposed  plans  do  not  provide  for  the  treatment  or  purification  of  the  sewage.  It 
is  evident  that  so  long  as  typhoid  poison  be  discharged  into  the  river  from  Natrona, 
the  health  of  the  general  public  in  the  towns  down  stream  using  the  river  waters 
for  drinking  purposes  will  continue  to  be  menaced.  The  notably  high  typhoid  rates 
in  the  Allegheny  River  valley  testify  to  the  consequences  of  polluting  drinking  water 
with  sewage.  In  order  that  Natrona  shall  cease  to  be  one  of  the  foci  of  infection, 
two  things  are  necessary  ;  first,  typhoid  should  be  banished  from  the  village,  and 
second,  sewage  discharged  into  the  river  must  be  discontinued. 

"The  banishment  will  be  caused  largely  by  a  pure  water  supply.  If  the  river  is 
to  be  continued  as  a  source  the  water  must  be  thoroughly  purified  by  modern  and 
approved  apparatus.  Meantime,  all  river  water  used  for  domestic  purposes  should 
be  boiled. 

"The  discontinuance  of  the  discharge  of  sewage  into  the  river  can  be  effected  by 
the  erection  of  sewage  purification  works,  by  means  of  which  the  chances  of 
pathogenic  poison  being  introduced  into  the  waters  of  the  State  may  be  largely 
minimized,  if  not  wholly  obviated.  However,  it  is  not  practicable,  owing  to  the 
excessive  cost,  for  a  township  of  Harrison's  size  to  construct  works  for  the  treat- 
ment of  both  sewage  and  storm  water.  The  economies  of  the  case  very  generally 
throughout  the  Commonwealth,  where  sewage  must  be  treated,  require  that  the 
conduits  in  which  surface  waters  are  removed  shall  be  separate  from  the  pipes 
designed  for  the  conveyance  of  household  drainage  to  the  disposal  works.  Be- 
cause the  proposed  sewers  are  now  designed  to  take  both  sewage  and  storm  water, 
they  are  not  adapted  to  the  present  or  future  requirements  imposed  by  the  State 
under  the  law  requiring  the  preservation  of  the  purity  of  streams  for  the  protection 
of  the  public  health. 

"Furthermore,  no  provision  is  made  in  the  plans  for  the  interception  of  the 
sewers  at  the  industrial  plants  in  the  township.  It  would  not  be  consistent  to  require 
the  village  sewage  to  be  treated  and  permit  the  sewage  from  an  equally  great  popu- 
lation resident  at  the  mills  and  factories  during  working  hours  to  go  into  the  river. 
Either  the  private  corporations  must  take  care  of  their  own  sewage,  or  the  public 
corporation  must  make  provision  therefor  under  some  equitable  adjustment  of  costs 
and  expenses. 

"It  appears  that  the  growth  of  the  township  and  the  village  will  be  in  the  valley 
on  the  plateau,  and  it  is  reasonable  to  anticipate  the  ultimate  occupation  of  all 
the  land  there.  The  selection  of  a  site  for  sewage  purification  works,  is  a  most 
important  matter  and  calls  for  study,  foresight  and  the  laying  down  at  this  time 
of  the  sanitary  policy  which  shall  prevail  for  the  future.  The  time  has  arrived  for 
the  adoption  of  a  comprehensive  sewerage  plan  and  the  township  commissioners  need 
the  services  of  a  competent  and  experienced  engineer  to  devise  comprehensive  sewer- 
age and  sewage  disposal  plans.  These  should  be  submitted  to  the  Commissioner  of 
Health  for  approval. 


259 


"In  view  of  :'ll  the  circumstances,  it  has  been  unanimously  agreed  by  the  Governor, 
Attorney  General  and  the  Commissioner  of  Health,  that  the  interests  of  the  public 
health  demand  that  the  Commissioner  of  Health  withhold  a  permit  and  I  do  hereby 

and  hen  in  withhold  a  permit  to  the  township  of  Harrison  to  construct  the  proposed 
sewer  system  anil  advise  that  it  will  be  necessary  fur  tin'  Commissioners  of  said 
township  to  prepare  new  plans  for  the  collection  of  all  sewage  of  the  village  of 
Natrona  and  for  its  conveyance  to  some  point  for  treatment  and  purification.  The 
plans  for  sewerage  and  sewage  disposal  should  be  comprehensive  and  be  designed 
in  anticipation  of  future  as  well  as  present  needs.  Storm  water  should  be  excluded 
from  the  sewers,  separate  conduits  being  provided  for  drainage.  Upon  preparation 
of  the  new  designs,  which  should  be  by  some  experienced  engineer,  such  designs 
should  be  submitted  to  the  Commissioner  of  Health  for  consideration. 

•It  has  also  been  unanimously  agreed  that  the  Township  Commissioners  should 
be  requested  and  I  do  hereby  and  herein  request  the  Harrison  Township  Com- 
missioner to  notify  the  public  in  said  township  to  boil  all  river  water  used  for 
domestic  purposes. 

"The  Commissioner  of  Health  will  notify  the  various  private  companies  in 
Harrison  Township  from  whose  plants  sewage  is  now  discharged  into  the  Allegheny 
River,  that  some  other  method  of  disposal  than  into  the  river  must  be  provided, 
preferably  by  connection  to  the  township  sewerage  system  and  sewage  disposal 
works  when  such  are  available." 

The  water  decree  of  December  190S,  approving  the  installation  of 
a  mechanical  filter  plant  contained  the  following  statements  by  the 
Commissioner  of  Health: 

"The  Natrona  "Water  Company  is  chartered  to  supply  spring  water  to  the  public 
in  the  township  of  Harrison  and  has  no  right,  under  its  existing  charter,  to  furnish 
an  additional  supply  of  filtered  river  water.  Steps  should  be  taken  immediately  to 
obtain  an  extension  of  its  charter  rights  which  will  permit  it  to  use  this  additional 
supply  and  the  Water  Supply  Commission  should  be  consulted  in  regard  to  this 
matter. 

"In  using  the  river  supply  of  water  for  domestic  purposes,  which  is  rendered 
necessary  on  account  of  the  limited  quantity  of  spring  water,  there  is  a  danger 
of  spreading  typhoid  and  other  water-borne  diseases  due  to  carelessness  in  the 
use  of  this  auxilliary  supply.  The  Natrona  Water  Company  appreciates  this 
condition  of  affairs  and  on  that  account  has  voluntarily  submitted  the  plans  Eor  the 
filter  plant  to  be  installed   for  purifying   this  supply   and   eliminating   this   danger. 

"The  filter  plant  as  submitted  is  equipped  with  all  modern  appliances  and,  if 
carefullv  operated,  should  prove  efficient.  There  are  some  details  in  connection 
with  it  which  have  not  been  provided  for  in  the  plans  submitted,  hut  which  will 
be  necessary  to  completely  equip  the  plant.  The  outlets  from  the  filters  are 
provided  with  orifice  controls  which  will  limit  the  rate  of  filtration  below  the 
maximum  allowable  rate,  but  no  provision  is  made  for  cutting  off  the  supply  from 
the  filter  when  the  small  Clearwater  well  is  full.  This  can  easily  be  arranged  by 
supplving  a  control  float  valve  at  the  outlets.  The  troughs  in  the  filters  are  located 
at  an  elevation  of  only  eight  inches  above  the  top  of  the  sand  in  the  filters.  It  is  the 
general  practice  to  make  the  minimum  height  over  the  top  of  the  sand  to  the 
trough  fifteen  inches  and  in  many  cases  where  wash  water  alone  is  depended  upon 
for  agitation  and  cleansing  the  filter  this  distance  is  increased  to  a  greater  depth. 
The  William  B.  Scaife  &  Sons  Company,  who  have  submitted  plans  for  these 
filters,  claim  that  this  is  unnecessary  in  their  filters  due  to  the  special  arrangement 
in  their  nozzles  whereby  the  washing  water  is  forced  out  horizontally  through  the 
gravel  and  there  is  a  uniform  distribution  over  the  whole  filter  area.  However,  it 
appears  that  it  would  be  more  advisable  to  raise  these  troughs  to  a  minimum  height 
of  fifteen  inches  above  the  filter  surface. 

"The  plans  do  not  show  in  what  manner  the  wash  water  and  other  waste  water 
from  the  filter  plant  will  be  disposed  of.  In  constructing  the  plant,  special  attention 
should  be  paid  to  protecting  adjacent  property  from  this  waste  water.  The  valye 
provided  between  the  water  company's  mains  and  the  pressure  lines  belonging  to  the 
Pennsylvania  Salt  Manufacturing  Company  for  fire  protection  should  only  be 
opened  in  extreme  emergencies,  when  the  fire  is  sufficiently  developed  to  require  this 
additional  supply.  The  mains,  after  being  filled  with  raw  water  from  this  source, 
should  be  thoroughly  flushed.  

"The  spring  water  supply  furnished  for  drinking  purposes  appears  to  be  satis- 
factory and  the  springs  appear  to  be  well  protected  from  pollution.  It  is  stated 
that  in  typhoid  fever  epidemics  in  this  locality  very  few  cases  have  been  traced  to 
the  water  supply  from  this  company." 

Brackenridge  borough,  Allegheny  County,  is  a  rapidly  growing, 
community  of  about  2,500  inhabitants  located  on  the  west  bank  of 
the  Allegheny  River  immediately  above  Tarentum  borough  and  be- 


260 


low  the  village  of  Natrona  aboul  twenty  miles  above  Pittsburgh. 
The  industries  within  the  borough  territory  are  the  Tarentum  Glass 
Company  employing  2(H)  hands,  (he  Fidelity  Glass  Company  em- 
ploying 350  hands,  and  Hie  Anchor  Brewing  Company.  The  Flaccus 
Glass  Company  just  inside  Tarentum  is  also  industrially  important 
in  Braekenridge.  Public  water  is  furnished  by  the  Tarentum  Water 
Company  operated  by  Hie  Allegheny  Valley  Water  Company  deriving 
its  supply  from  an  intake  crib  in  the  river  opposite  the  central  part  of 
the  borough.  On  Sept.  6th,  1007,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  ap- 
proved plans  for  a  filtration  plant  and  ordered  the  same  to  be 
erected.  Previous  to  the  installation  of  this  purification  plant 
typhoid  fever  had  been  endemic  in  the  territory  supplied  by  the 
Tarentum  Water  Company.  From  January,  1005,  to  August  1,  1907, 
there  were  175  cases  of  typhoid  fever  in  Braekenridge,  all  of  which 
may  not  have  been  due  to  the  infection  of  the  public  water  supply  as 
private  wells  and  back  yards  pumps  are  in  common  use. 

This  permit  of  1007  contained  the  following  statements  made  by  the 
Commissioner  of  Health. 

"The  borough  of  Tarenturn  is  located  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Allegheny  River 
in  the  northeastern  part  of  Allegheny  County  about  twenty-one  miles  above  Allegheny 
City,  and  on  the  West  Penn  Division  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  system.  It  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Harrison  Township  and  the  borough  of  Braekenridge, 
recently  incorporated  out  of  said  township,  and  on  the  west  and  south  by  East 
Deer  Township,  said  township  extending  along  the  river  for  two  miles  below 
Tarentum,  the  villages  of  Creighton,  Hites  and  Glassmere  being  located  on  the 
railroad  on  the  bank  of  the  river  in  this  township. 

"Above  Brackeuridge.  in  Harrison  Township,  is  the  large  village  of  Natrona. 
These  places  are  all  supplied  by  the  Tarentum  Water  Company. 

"The  Tarentum  Avater  works  system  comprises  a  filtering  crib  in  the  river,  intake 
well,  pumping  plant,  force  main,  subsidence  storage  basin,  gravity  supply  main, 
and  distributing  pipes. 

"The  intake,  pumping  station  and  reservoir  are  located  in  the  borough  of  Braeken- 
ridge. 

"In  the  water  district  there  is  a  total  population  of  12,080,  the  actual  consumers 
numbering  10,655  The  population  using  the  public  supply  in  Harrison  Township, 
including  Braekenridge  borough,  is  2,385.  In  Tarentum  borough  7,490,  and  in 
East  Deer  Township,  780.  It  is  estimated  that  the  consumption  averages  2,125,000 
gallons  daily  of  which  2,000,000  are  used  for  domestic  purposes.  This  larger  per 
capita  rate  is  attributable  to  waste  on  account  of  the  poor  quality  of  the  water, 
many  of  the  householders  keeping  the  faucets  open  and  the  water  running  con- 
tinuously. The  water  is  often  muddy  and  always  polluted  by  sewage.  The  sewers 
of  Natrona  village  discharge  into  the  river  at  a  point  a  little  over  a  mile  above 
the  filter  crib  and  intake  well.  The  sewage  from  industrial  plants  and  from  a  large 
population  is  also  discharged  into  the  river  above  the  Tarentum  intake  at  many 
places.  Physicians  and  health  officers  have  urged  the  borough  consumers  to  use 
filtered  and  boiled  water.  Notwithstanding  this  advice  which  is  carried  out  to 
some  extent,  typhoid  fever  is  prevalent  as  would  be  expected  under  the  circum- 
stances. 

"The  Department  has  had  a  canvass  made  of  the  district,  physicians'  records 
have  been  examined  and  it  appears  that  up  to  August  1st,  of  the  current  year  be- 
ginning January  1st,   1905,   that  there  has  been  a  total  of  578  cas°s  and  31 . deaths . 

"These  figures  are  largely  in  excess  of  the  cases  reported  by  the  local  physicians 
and  returned  to  the  Department  by  the  local  registrar.  The  distribution  of  the  eases 
among  the  water  consumers  total  34  for  East  Deer  Township,  290  for  Tarentum, 
157  for  Braekenridge  and  97  for  Harrison  Township.  It  appears  for  1905,  .that 
there  were  102  cases  in  all,  and  for  1906,  292  cases  and  for  1907,  1S4  cases  in  the 
district.  During  1905,  in  Natrona,  out  of  30  cases  attended-  by  one  physician. 
26  were  on  the  Tarentum  supply,  and  the  same  physician  attended  ten  ens^s  in  1906 
in  the  same  village  on  the  same  supply.  It  is  reported  that  the  portion  of  Natrona 
supplied  by  the  Salt  Manufacturing  Company's  system  of  water  works  has  been 
free  from  the  disease  in  those  families  supplied  exclusively  by  this  water,  which 
supply  is  obtained  from  springs  located  on  the  hillsides  and  protected  from 
pollution . 

261 


"On  July  24th,  1907,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  notified  the  Tarentum  Water 
Company  that  its  source  of  supply  is  prejudicial  to  public  health  and  requested  said 
cmpany  to  submit  a  plan  for  the  filtration  of  the  water  to  the  State  Department 
of  Health  at  as  early  a  date  as  possible. 

"An  agreement  has  been  made  between  the  Roberts  Manufacturing  Company 
of  Philadelphia  and  the  Tar  en  rum  Water  Company's  Works,  whereby  the  said 
manufacturing  company  is  to  erect  within  a  building  and  upon  foundations  to  be 
furnished  by  the  purchaser,  a  gravity  filtration  plant  to  be  located  on  the  hill 
contiguous  to  the  Tareutum  Water  Company's  reservoir,  and  to  consist  of  three 
coagulating  or  subsidence  tanks  and  six  mechanical  filter  units  with  all  necessary 
appliances  ami  appurtenances  and  guarantees  that  the  filtered  water  shall  be 
bright  and  clear  and  practically  free  from  suspended  matters,  turbidity  and 
discoloration,  and  that  the  filtration  plant  shall  be  capable  of  delivering  three 
million  gallons  of  water  each  24  hours,  and  that  when  the  number  of  bacteria  in 
the  raw  water  is  3,000  or  more  per  cubic  centimeter,  there  shall  be  a  bacterial 
reduction  in  the  filtered  water  averaging  not  less  than  98  per  cent.,  as  determined 
by  an  examination  of  not  less  than  30  samples  collected  from  the  filtered  water 
collecting  flume  in  a  period  of  not  less  than  15  days;  and  that  when  the  number  .of 
bacteria  in  the  raw  water  is  less  than  3,000  per  cubic  centimeter,  the  filtered  water 
shall  show  an  average  of  uot  more  than  100  per  cubic  centimeter  as  determined 
by  similar  examinations,  which  guarantees  are  made  subject  to  the  condition  that  the 
purchaser  will  operate  the  plant  properly  and  according  to  instructions,  that  a 
suitable  quantity  of  coagulant  shall  be  used,  that  the  guaranteed  capacity  of  the 
plant  shall  not  be  exceeded  and  that  the  filters  and  coagulating  tanks  shall  be 
cleaned  as  frequently  as  the  condition  of  the  raw  or  applied  water  may  neces- 
sitate. 

"The  water  is  to  be  drawn  from  the  Allegheny  River  through  the  existing  apparatus 
and  to  be  delivered  into  the  proposed  coagulating  tanks  at  the  reservoir  by  the  existing 
pumping  engines  and  force  mains. 

"If  carefully  and  intelligently  operated,  the  plant  should  give  a  fairly  good 
effluent  especially  under  ordinary  conditions  of  river  water.  But  the  operation  must 
be  carefully  attended  to.  Best  design  would  require  that  from  six  to  eight  hours  be 
provided  for  sedimentation.  Probably  more  subsidence  than  now  proposed  will 
be  proven  desirable  by  experience,  and  additions  may  have  to  be  made  in  the 
near  future.  More  especially  since  the  settling  tanks  have  two  hours'  capacity 
only  at  the  nominal  rate  of  the  plant,  should  a  different  method  of  coagulant  feed 
be  installed  than  now  proposed.  Preferably  the  chemical  should  be  introduced  at 
the  pumping  plant  to  effect  a  more  thorough  mixing  and  preparation  for  sub- 
sidence. And  all  of  the  water  should  be  pumped  to  and  pass  through  the  filter  plant 
to  the  storage  reservoir  before  being  supplied  to  the  consumers.  The  changes  in 
the  quality  of  the  Allegheny  River  are  sudden  at  times,  and  the  amount  of  chemical 
solution  should  be  correspondingly  changed.  If  the  apparatus  were  at  the  pumping 
station,  it  might  not  be  necessary,  except  during  prolonged  periods  of  high  turbidities 
when  the  worst  wTater  was  being  delivered  raw  to  the  filtration  plant,  that  an 
attendant  would  be  required  at  the  purification  plant  in  the  night  time.  Otherwise, 
such  attendance  might  be  necessary. 

"The  general  layout  is  an  attempt  to  secure  an  efficient  plant  at  a  minimum  cost 
for  installation.  It  will  be  expensive  to  operate  and  maintain.  The  petitioners 
have  a  project  for  the  construction  of  a  new  subsidence  basin  or  reservoir  on  a 
hill  further  back  from  the  river  to  be  used  for  primary  sedimentation,  so  it  is 
reported.  Such  subsidence  cannot  be  afforded  at  this  time  for  lack  of  money  to 
meet  the  expense,  so  it  appears.  Therefore,  the  operating  costs  of  the  proposed 
filter  plant  will  be  relatively  high  until  facilities  for  more  thorough  primary 
treatment  of  the  raw  water  is  afforded." 

At  the  Tarentum  and  the  Fidelity  Glass  works  private  spring 
water  supplies  are  used  for  drinking  purposes.  The  brewing  com- 
pany also  has  a  private  pipe  line  from  a  spring  on  the  hill.  Out- 
door privies  and  the  presence  of  sink  water  in  the  street  gutters  are 
noticeable  throughout  practically  the  entire  borough  and  nearly  all 
of  the  dwellings  along  the  river  front  have  private  drains  directly 
to  the  river  both  above  and  below  the  water  works  intake.  The  bor- 
ough has  an  extensive  sewer  system  with  a  thirty-six  inch  outlet  near 
the  Tarentum  borough  line,  which  sewers  receive  roof  drainage  as 
well  as  sanitary  sewage  and  serve  a  large  portion  of  the  population. 
On  May  25,  1908,  and  subsequently  on  November  19th,  1908,  the  Com- 
missioner of  Health  issued  decress  to  the  borough  withholding  ap- 


262 


proval  of  sewerage  plans  submitted  and  urging  the  advisability  of 
co-operation  between  the  boroughs  of  Tarentum  and  Brackenridge 
and  the  village  of  Natrona  in  the  matter  of  sewage  purification. 

Excerpts  from  these  decrees  are  as  follows: 

(May  25,  1908.)  "The  contemplated  extensions  aggregate  2.42  miles  which  is 
within  one-third  of  a  mile  of  the  length  of  the  sewers  now  built.  The  extensions 
are  to  be  divided  as  follows:  2,270  feet  of,  24  inch,  320  feet  of  18  inch,  2,870  feet 
of  15  inch  and  7,326  feet  of  12  inch. 

"With  the  exception  of  Brackenridge  Avenue  no  highway  in  the  town  has  its 
surface  permanently  paved.  The  petitioners  are  seriously  considering  the  paving 
question.  It  should,  however,  not  be  given  precedence  over  the  higher  duty  of 
disposing  of  the  sewage  in  a  safe  and  sanitary  manner.  Not  only  do  the  interests  of 
the  public  health  in  Brackenridge  demand  that  sewage  from  Natrona  and  other  up- 
stream municipalities  and  places  shall  be  purified  and  rendered  harmless  before 
reaching  the  river,  but  they  demand,  together  with  the  same  interests  elsewhere 
in  the  valley,  that  Brackenridge  sewage  shall  be  purified.  It  is  reported  that  the 
municipal  assessed  valuation  is  in  the  neighborhood  of  $1,000,000,  and  that  its 
borrowing  capacity,  taking  into  account  its  present  bonded  indebtedness,  is  in 
excess  of  $50,000,  which,  if  true,  enables  the  municipality  to  give  serious  con- 
sideration to  the  means  by  which  sewage  treatment  shall  be  accomplished. 

"Natrona  has  been  denied  the  right  to  extend  its  sewer  system  and  discharge 
sewage  into  the  river.  The  State  Department  of  Health  has  called  for  plans  for 
a  purification  plant.  There  is  no  well  defined  line  between  Brackenridge  and 
Tarentum,  in  fact  all  these  places  form  one  continuous  settlement  and  it  is 
probable  that  a  competent  expert  could  develop  sewage  disposal  works  for  these 
settlements  under  some  joint  co-operative  plan  which  would  prove  finaneially  ad- 
vantageous to  each.  One  thing  is  certain,  the  treatment  of  sewage  mingled  with 
storm  water  would  prove  prohibitive  in  cost.  There  must  be  a  separation.  At  the 
present  time  most  of  Brackenridge  sewers  as  shown  above  take  the  place  of 
natural  water  courses  and  are  essential  for  storm  drainage.  It  would  be  incon- 
sistent for  the  State  to  approve  of  a  sewerage  plan  whose  consummation  did  not  bring 
about  the  collection  of  the  entire  borough's  sewage  and  its  deliverance  to  some 
point  for  purification.  It  is  not  made  plain  to  the  Department  why  the  pro- 
posed sewer  on  the  flat  should  not  be  for  sanitary  purposes  only  and  why  all  of 

lie  lateral  sewers  proposed  should  not  be  strictly  for  sanitary  purposes.  It 
is  an  extravagant  and  improvident  thing  for  the  borough  to  jump  hastily  to  the 
conclusion  that  economy  and  efficiency  will  be  achieved  by  the  laying  of  combined 
sewers  from  now  on.  It  is  a  natural  conclusion,  however,  since  the  main  storm 
drains  have  been  laid  and  they  are  at  this  moment  convenient  outlets  for  the 
sewage ;  but  in  view  of  the  fact  that  the  Allegheny  River  and  the  Ohio  are  now 
and  must  continue  to  be  the  sources  of  public  water  supply  to  the  inhabitants 
along  their  banks,  and  in  view  of  the  fact  that  it  has  become  a  State  policy  to 
preserve  the  purity  of  the  waters  of  the  State  for  the  protection  of  the  public 
health,  the  borough  should  very  carefully  study  how  best  to  collect  the  sewage  from 
all  parts  of  its  territory  and  convey  it  to  a  place  for  treatment.  In  this  study 
existing  sewers  may  be  incorporated  to  some  degree  if  found  practicable,  but  the 
lateral  and  new  sewers  should  exclude  surface  water.  Finally  when  the  plan 
shall  have  been  worked  out  and  adopted  and  made  official  by  approval  of  the 
State  Department  of  Health,  the  borough  can  build  a  sewer  in  any  particular 
street  whenever  it  may  see  fit  to  do  so,  with  the  assurance  that  the  plan  is  a 
permanent  one,  and  that  it  will  be  economical  and  efficient  and  best  protect  and 
subserve  the  interests  of  all  concerned. 

"In  vieAv  of  the  fact  that  the  borough  of  Brackenridge  has  extended  its  sewer 
system  contrary  to  the  provisions  of  law,  and  in  view  of  the  fact  that  it  did  not 
take  advantage  of  the  exemption  clause  of  Act  182  of  1905,  its  sewage  is  being 
illegally  discharged  into  the  waters  of  the  State:  and  in  view  of  the  further  fact 
that  the  speedy  removal  of  sewage  from  the  vicinity  of  dwellings  in  a  system  of 
underground  pipes  should  be  a  means  of  promoting  public  health  in  the  borough 
and  elsewhere  if  the  sewage  be  properly  disposed  of,  therefore,  it  has  been 
unanimously  agreed  by  the  Governor,  Attorney  General  and  Commissioner  of 
Health,  that  the  interests  of  the  public  health  demand  that  a  permit  be  withheld 
and  that  the  borough  of  Brackenridge  be  notified  that  it  must  on  or  before  August 
1st,  1908,  prepare  a  comprehensive  plan  for  the  collection  and  purification  of  the 
sewage  of  the  borough,  to  include  not  only  those  districts  which  are  now  sewered 
into  the  river,  but  all  of  the  municipal  territory  having  its  natural  drainage  into 
the  river,  which  plans  shall  be  submitted  to  the  Commissioner  of  Health  for  approval, 
on  or  before  said  date. 

"The  attention  of  the  local  authorities  is  especially  called  to  the  advisability  and 
advantages  of  co-operating  with  the  proper  local  authorities  of  Natrona  and 
Tarentum  in  the  study  of  plans  for  the  treatment  of  the  sewage. 


268 


"A  hearing  should  be  given  to  the  authorities  of  these  places  in  order  that  there 
shall  be  a  better  understanding  relative  to  the  requirements  of  the  Commissioner  of 
Health." 

(November  19,  1908.)  "On  October  13th,  of  the  current  year,  the  solicitor  of 
Tarentum  borough  informed  the  Department  that  he  was  advised  that  the  town- 
ship of  Harrison  in  which  is  located  the  village  of  Natrona  has  declined  to  enter 
into  a  joint  sewerage  plan,  but  thai  the  borough  of  Tarentum  had  directed  its 
engineer  to  prepare  a  plan  of  sewerage  and  sewage  disposal  and  further,  that 
Tarentum  borough  will  be  willing  to  cooperate  with  Brackenridge  and  Harrison 
Township  if  the  State  Department  of  Health  deems  it  wise  so  to  do  and  can  arrange 
such  co-operation. 

"The  site  of  the  proposed  disposal  works  is  on  the  river  front  near  the  Tarentum 
borough  line  and  within  one  thousand  feet  of  Morgan  Street  and  South  Canal 
Street  and  the  railroad.  In  this  territory  there  are  a  large  number  of  dwellings 
and  some  business  blocks.    Also  Brackenridge  Avenue,  a  main  thoroughfare. 

"Leading  to  the  site  two  main  sanitary  sewers  are  proposed  each  twenty-four  inches 
in  diameter.  One  of  them  is  to  extend  easterly  in  the  alley  back  of  Brackenridge 
Avenue  and  it  will  serve  the  greater  part  of  the  flats  and  a  considerable  portion  of  the 
hillside  district  north  of  the  railroad.  A  new  sanitary  sewer  is  to  be  provided 
for  every  street  or  for  alleys  back  of  the  streets,  and  all  of  the  sewage  in  the  district 
is  to  be  ultimately  collected  in  the  district  and  discharged  into  the  sewage  dis- 
posal works. 

"The  site  of  the  disposal  works  cannot  be  approved.  The  odor  from  it  would  be 
sure  to  create  a  nuisance  to  the  injury  of  public  health  on  the  flats.  A  more 
remote  site  must  be  found.  It  is  not  prudent  to  build  sewage  works  nearer  than 
a  thousand  feet  from  a  dwelling  or  from  property  likely  to  be  used  for  residential 
purposes. 

"Since  the  sewers  are  designed  to  flow  by  gravity  to  the  disposal  works,  this 
necessitates  the  filling  in  of  Stieren  Street  to  a  depth  of  six  feet. 

"The  sewer  grades  should  be  adjusted  to  the  official  grades  of  the  highways  of 
the  borough  in  order  that  abutting  properties  may  obtain  adequate  benefits  from  the 
sewer.  If  grades  are  not  established,  they  should  be.  It  would  be  folly  to  undertake 
the  laying  of  permanent  sewers  without  this  precaution.  There  is  no  place  in  the 
borough  where  a  sewage  disposal  plant  can  be  erected  and  maintained  satisfactorily 
and  from  information  now  at  hand  in  the  Department,  it  seems  evident  that  a 
proper  site  for  purification  works  for  Brackenridge  sewage  would  be  at  some 
distance  beyond  the  borough.  Pumping  of  the  sewage  to  this  site  must  be  resorted  to 
for  at  least  that  portion  of  Brackenridge  sewage  produced  on  the  flats.  The 
hillside  sewage  may  be  delivered  by  gravity.  The  grades  of  the  proposed  sewers 
should  be  determined  with  a  view  of  delivering  the  sewage  in  an  economical  manner 
to  such  satisfactory  site  and  purification  works. 

"It  may  be  emphasized  that  Brackenridge  borough's  financial  interests  are  cen- 
tered very  materially  about  the  proposition  of  a  joint  sewerage  intercepting  project 
and  disposal  works  involving  Tarentum  borough.  If  a  joint  project  cannot  be  con- 
summated, then  each  municipality  must  proceed  independently  but  certain  it  is 
that  efforts  should  be  made  by  the  municipalities  concerned  to  come  together  on 
the  subject." 

The  borough  of  Brackenridge  joined  with  Tarentum  borough  in 
preparing  plans  for  a  joint  .sewage  disposal  plant  and  they  were  sub- 
mitted by  the  borough  of  Tarentum.  Brackenridge  then  followed 
up  these  plans  by  plans  of  its  own  for  the  sanitary  sewer  system 
to  be  built  within  its  own  territory  and  on  November  9th,  1909,  in  a 
decree  approving  this  sanitary  sewer  system  in  general,  the  follow- 
ing statements  were  made  by  the  Commissioner  of  Health. 

"It  appears  that  the  borough  of  Brackenridge  on  October  24,  1907,  made  application 
for  permission  to  extend  the  sewers  and  to  discharge  sewage  therefrom  into  the 
Allegheny  River.  In  response  to  this  application,  on  May  25,  190S,  the  Commissioner 
of  Health  issued  a  decree  hereinbefore  quoted.  In  response  to  this  decree  on 
September  25,  1908,  the  engineer  of  Brackenridge  borough  submitted  on  behalf 
of  the  borough  a  plan  of  sewerage  on  which  was  located  a  site  for  a  proposed 
disposal  works.  The  plans  submitted  involved  the  construction  of  a  sanitary 
sewerage  system  consisting  of  sanitary  sewers  ranging  in  diameter  from  nine 
inches  to  twenty-four  inches  and  extending  throughout  the  developed  section  of  the 
borough.  Profiles  of  the  sewers  were  not  submitted.  The  sewers  were  to  drain 
to  the  site  for  the  proposed  disposal  works  which  was  located  on  the  river  front 
near  the  Tarentum  borough  line  and  within  a  thousand  feet  of  Morgan  Street, 
South  Canal  Street  and  the  Railroad.  In  this  territory  there  are  a  large  number 
of  dwellings  and  some  business  blocks.  It  was  proposed  to  construct  a  portion 
of   the   sanitary   sewerage   system    and    to   drain    it    temporarily    into    the    existing 


264 


storm  sewer  and  eventually  to  construct  the  disposal  works  and  eliminate  all 
sewage  from  the  storm  sewer.  These  plans  wen:  considered  by  the  Department 
of  Health  and  on  November  19,  1908,  a  second  decree  was  issued,  as  hereinbefore 
quoted.  In  accordance  with  the  terms  of  this  decree  the  borough  of  Brackenridge 
has  submitted  the  plans  for  the  sanitary  sewerage  system  to  be  used  in  conjunction 
with  Tarentum  and  the  joint  sewage  disposal  plant. 

"The  proposed  sewers  for  which  a  plan  lias  been  submitted,  will  consist  of  an 
entirely  new  system  of  sanitary  sewers  so  designed  as  to  drain  the  entire  borough 
territory.  The  sewage  will  be  drained  through  two  main  fifteen  inch  sewers 
which  will  drain  the  high  district  north  of  the  railroad,  consisting  of  the  resi- 
dential section,  and  the  low  district  between  the  railroad  and  the  river,  consisting 
of  the  built  up  section,  respectively.  These  two  fifteen  inch  main  sewers  will 
connect  at  the  southwest  corner  of  the  borough  with  the  proposed  twenty  lour  inch 
joint  intercepting  sewer  to  be  constructed  by  Tarentum  and  Brackenridge  boroughs 
and  extending  from  the  southwest  corner  of  Brackenridge  borough  westerly  ,-ilong  the 
river  front  to  Tarentum  borough  to  the  proposed  site  for  the  pumping  station. 
At  this  pumping  station  the  sewage  will  be  lifted  to  the  proposed  disposal  plant 
to  be  constructed  by  Tarentum  and  Brackenridge  boroughs  and  for  which,  a  permit 
was  issued  to  Tarentum  borough  on  October  eleventh. 

"According  to  the  plans  submitted,  all  of  the  sewage  of  Brackenridge  borough 
will  be  collected  in  this  main  intercepting  sewer  and  pumped  to  the  disposal  plant 
with  the  exception  of  an  eight  inch  lateral  on  School  Alley  in  the  northwestern 
portion  of  Brackenridge  borough.  This  lateral  is  400  feet  long  and  drains  into 
the  high  level  system  of  Tarentum  borough,  which  will  flow  by  gravity  to  the 
proposed  disposal  plant. 

"In  providing  to  dispose  of  the  sewage  by  means  of  a  joint  disposal  plant  to 
be  built  in  conjunction  with  the  borough  of  Tarentum  and  in  submitting  of  a  plan 
for  a  strictly  sanitary  sewerage  system  for  the  collection  of  the  sewage,,  the 
borough  of  Brackenridge  has  adopted  the  most  economical  and  satisfactory  method 
of  handling  the  sewage  of  the  borough.  This  is  in  accordance  with  the  outline 
given  in  the  decrees  which  have  been  issued  to  this  borough  in  regard  to  the  proper 
treatment  of  its  sewage. 

"There  are  many  details,  however,  in  the  arrangement  of  the  sewerage  system 
which  will  need  revision  before  the  construction  of  the  sewers  is  begun.  The 
plan  for  the  sewerage  system  as  submitted  is  poorly  designed  and  can  serve  as  little 
more  than  an  outline  for  the  final  plans  for  the  sewers. 

"The  plans  of  the  sewage  disposal  plant  submitted  by  the  borough  of  Tarentum 
on  behalf  of  Brackenridge  borough  and  Tarentum  borough,  and  approved  by  the 
Department  of  Health  in  said  decree  of  October  11,  1909,  called  for  a  subsidence 
tank,  sprinkling  filters  and  a  re-settling  tank  with  facilities  for  the  handling  of  the 
sludge.  The  works  are  to  be  located  in  the  township  immediately  north  of 
Tarentum  borough  and  on  the  west  bank  of  Bull  Creek.  The  estimated  cost  of  the 
pumping  station,  force  main  and  disposal  plant  for  the  treatment  of  the  sewages 
of  both  municipalities  is  from  $70,000  to  $100,000. 

"In  view  of  the  foregoing  circumstances,  it  has  been  determined  that  the  interests 
of  the  public  health  will  be  subserved  by  approving  the  general  plan  of  sewerage 
for  the  borough  of  Brackenridge  as  submitted,  that  is,  the  general  plan  to  construct 
a  sanitary  sewerage  system  and  to  purify  its  sewage  before  discharging  it  into  the 
Allegheny  River  by  means  of  the  proposed  joint  disposal  plant  to  be  built  and 
maintained  by  the  boroughs  of  Tarentum  and  Brackenridge,  as  more  particularly 
outlined  so  far  as  the  sewage  treatment  plant  is  concerned,  in  the  premit  issued 
on  the  11th  day  of  October,  1909,  by  the  Department  of  Health  to  the  borough  of 
Tarentum  and  the  same  is  hereby  and  herein  approved  and  a  permit  issued 
therefor." 

Tarentum  Borough,  Allegheny  County,  has  a  population  of  about 
7,000  and  is  located  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Allegheny  River  about 
twenty-one  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  river.  It  is  a  manufactur- 
ing town  bounded  on  the  north  by  Brackenridge  Borough,  above 
which  lies  Natrona  Village,  the  three  towns  forming  practically  one 
community.  There  are  three  extensive  industrial  plants  in  Taren- 
tum, two  of  which  are  at  the  southern  end  of  the  town — the  Taren- 
tum Paper  Mills  employing  150  men  and  the  Pittsburgh  Plate  Glass 
Company  employing  about  500 — the  third  being  the  Flaccus  Glass 
Company  located  near  the  Brackenridge  Borough  line  and  employing 
from  300  to  400  men.  The  public  water  supply  is  furnished  by  the 
Tarentum  Water  Company  operated  by  the  Allegheny  Valley  Water 
Company  whose  supply  is  derived  from  the  river  at  Brackenridge. 

265 


A  filtration  plant  for  the  purification  of  the  supply  was  ordered  by 
the  Commissioner  of  Health  and  erected  under  a  permit  issued  by 
him  on  September  6,  1007.  as  already  fully  set  forth  in  the  discus- 
sion under  Brackenridge  Borough.  The  prevalence  of  typhoid  fever 
of  which  there  were  200  cases  in  Tarentum  between  January  1,  1005 
and  August  1,  1007,  pointed  out  the  necessity  for  this  step.  The 
Flaccus  Glass  Company  maintains  an  intake  pumping  station  for 
river  water  for  industrial  purposes.  It  is  a  few  hundred  feet  below 
the  outfall  of  the  main  Brackenridge  sewer.  Drinking  water  for 
employees  is  taken  from  a  driven  well.  The  public  sewers  of  the 
borough  are  built  on  the  combined  plan  and  consist  of  9.5  miles  of 
sewers  of  which  7.5  miles  have  a  diameter  of  fifteen  inches  or  under. 
There  are  six  outlets;  one  twenty  inches  and  five  thirty  inches  in 
diameter.  The  first  decree  relative  to  sewerage  was  issued  by  the 
Commissioner  of  Health  to  the  borough  on  May  26,  1908.  It  ap- 
proved the  construction  of  certain  sewers  and  withheld  approval  of 
others.  Industrial  wastes  flow  from  the  Pittsburgh  Plate  Glass 
Company  plant  through  a  twenty-four  and  an  eight  inch  pipe  into 
the  river,  and  contain  some  oxide  of  iron  and  muriatic  acid  in  solu- 
tion. From  the  Tarentum  Paper  Mills  about  2,000,000  gallons  of 
water  continuing  spent  solutions  of  chloride  of  lime  and  soda  are  dis- 
charged daily  into  the  river  through  a  twenty-four  inch  and  an  eigh- 
teen inch  pipe. 

In  this  sewerage  decree  of  May  1908,  the  following  statements 
were  made  by  the  Commissioner  of  Health: 

"The  public  supply  is  furnished  by  the  Tarentum  Water  Company  operated  by 
the  Allegheny  Water  Company  and  the  district  comprises  the  boroughs  of  Tarentum 
and  Brackenridge  and  the  villages  in  Harrison  and  East  Deer  Townships.  The 
pumping  station  is  located  on  the  river  bank  in  the  central  part  of  Brackenridge. 
Formerly  the  water  was  pumped  from  the  river  to  a  reservoir  at  the  summit  of 
the  hill,  from  whence  it  flowed  by  gravity  to  the  consumer.  Typhoid  fever  cases 
were  numerous  and  in  1907  the  Commissioner  of  Health  notified  the  company  that 
its  supply  was  prejudicial  to  public  health  and  that  the  water  must  be  filtered. 
Plans  for  a  mechanical  filter  plant  were  submitted  and  on  September  6,  1907,  they 
were  approved  and  the  purification  plant  has  been  erected.  The  sewers  of  Natrona 
village  discharge  into  the  river  at  a  point  a  little  over  a  mile  above  the  water 
company's  intake.  Sewage  from  industrial  plants  in  Harrison  Township  also  dis- 
charges into  the  Allegheny  River  above  said  intake.  The  physicians  and  health 
officers  have  urged  the  consumers  to  boil  the  water ;  but  this  was  not  generally 
done.  Even  now  with  a  filtered  supply  assured,  the  menace  exists  because  a 
filter  plant  is  not  germ  proof  and  is  liable  to  a  breakdawn,  in  which  event  the 
sewage  polluted  water  might  be  introduced  into  the  homes  of  the  water  con- 
sumers. 

"From  January  1,  1905,  to  August  1,  1907,  there  were  known  to  have  occurred 
578  cases  of  typhoid  fever  in  the  water  district,  of  which  290  were  in  Tarentum. 
During  the  first  seven  months  of  1907,  there  were  86  cases  in  the  borough.  As  the 
disease  is  largely  a  waterborne  one,  and  the  public  supply  was  known  to  be  dan- 
gerous the  conclusion  must  be  that  the  larger  percentage  of  cases  originated  pri- 
marily from  the  poisoned  public  water. 

"The  petitioners  have  submitted  a  blanket  application  which  provides  for  sewers 
in  practically  all  unsewered  districts  of  the  town  and  in  general  the  conditions 
in  these  districts  are  unsanitary.  First  Avenue,  which  is  the  highway  in  the 
north  and  along  the  river  front,  does  not  now  have  a  sewer  in  it.  There  are  many 
dwellings  thoreon  having  individual  sewers  to  the  river.  The  borough  purposes  to  lay 
an  eight  inch  sewer  in  this  street.  The  outlets  will  be  into  the  existing  river 
outfalls. 

266 


"The  petitioners  are  desirous  of  paving  East  Eighth  Street  and  wish  to  lay  an 
eight  inch  sewer  therein  and  the  connecting  sewer  in  Main  Street.  The  work  of 
sewering  the  other  streets,  as  indicated  on  the  plans,  is  to  be  done  from  time 
to  time  as  necessity  may  demand  it.  Extensions  comprise  :i  total  of  11,090  feet 
of  eight  inch,  290  feet  of  ten  inch,  and  1,365  feet  of  twelve  inch  pipe. 

"If  reports  be  true,  the  municipal  borrowing  capacity  is  in  the  neighborhood  <>f 
$100,000.  So  Tarentum  is  in  a  position  to  take  up  the  question  of  discontinuing  the 
discharge  of  sewage  into  the  river.  This  stream  is  the  permanent  source  of 
supply  of  water  to  the  public  in  a  populous  and  growing  district.  The  interests 
of  the  public  health  demand,  and  the  General  Assembly  has  declared  it  to  be  the 
policy  of  the  Commonwealth,  to  bring  about  the  preservation  of  the  purity  of  the 
waters  of  the  State  for  the  protection  of  the  public  health.  It  is  essential  that 
the  State  authorities  should  approve  only  such  sewerage  plans  as  contemplate  this 
end.  It  would  not  be  feasible  for  Tarentum  to  assume  the  expense  of  treating  and 
purifying  mingled  sewage  and  storm  water.  It  is  the  poisons  from  the  human 
body  which  infect  the  public  waters  and  make  them  dangerous  to  drink.  It  is 
reasonable  when  these  poisons  are  conveyed  away  from  the  premises  in  pipes 
carrying  waste  water  used  in  the  household  only,  to  handle  the  volume  of  water 
in  purification  works.  Fortunately,  the  present  sewer  system  of  the  bo'rough  can 
be  revised  and  arranged  to  exclude  the  greater  part  of  the  storm  water,  and  a 
comprehensive  plan  for  a  practicable  separation  of  sewage  and  storm  water  and  the 
incorporation  of  as  many  existing  sewers  as  feasible  into  the  improved  sewerage 
system  should  be  worked  up  at  once,  together  with  the  plans  for  the  treatment  of 
the  sewage.  After  such  a  plan  shall  have  been  approved  and  adopted,  the  borough 
may  then,  with  prudence  and  economy,  build  a  sewer  in  any  street  in  conformity 
with  this  plan  with  the  assurance  that  the  work  is  being  permanently  done. 

"There  is  no  visible  evidence  of  a  boundary  between  Tarentum  and  Brackenridge. 
The  latter  borough  wishes  to  extend  its  sewers.  The  village  of  Natrona  has  been 
denied  a  right  to  extend  sewers  and  to  discharge  the  sewage  into  the  Allegheny 
River;  but  plans  for  a  purification  plant  have  been  called  for.  Undoubtedly  a 
joint  intercepting  sewer  and  sewage  disposal  plant  for  the  three  communities  would 
be  financially  advantageous  to  each  and  the  authorities  of  Tarentum  might  well 
give  this  suggestion  careful  consideration. 

"Within  the  borough  the  possible  pollution  of  existing  domestic  supplies  of 
water  should  be  looked  into  and  wells  or  springs  liable  to  contamination  should  be 
abandoned  or  the  menace  removed,  if  this  be  possible. 

"Not  only  have  the  sewers  been  extended  illegally,  but  the  local  authorities  did 
not  avail  themselves  of  the  exemption  clause  of  Act  182  of  1905,  in  consequence  of 
which  the  borough  is  privileged  to  pay  the  penalty  for  rendering  impure  and 
prejudicial  to  public  health  a  stream  used  immediately  below  as  a  source  of 
drinking  water  by  hundreds  of  thousands  of  people.  It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  an 
enlightened  municipality  would  elect  to  continue  so  detrimental  a  practice  if  ways 
and  means  be  at  hand  whereby  a  change  may  be  effected  to  the  satisfaction  of  all 
concerned;  but  to  arrive  at  a  wise  conclusion,  plans  and  estimates  of  cost  are 
the  first  requisites.  The  laying  down  of  sewers  in  advance  of  street  paving  i* 
good  business  policy  and  such  plans  warrant  approval.  It  does  not  appear, 
however,  that  elsewhere  in  the  borough  the  demands  are  so  pressing  as  to  over- 
balance the  broader  considerations  of  public  health." 

On  July  16,  1900,  Tarentum  filed  with  the  Commissioner  of  Health 
plans  for  a  comprehensive  system  of  sewage  and  sewage  disposal 
and  thereupon  the  Commissioner  of  Health  issued  a  permit,  October 
11,  1909,  by  the  terms  of  which  permit  the  borough  of  Tarentum  was 
given  permission  to  discharge  sewage  into  Bull  Creek  and  the  Alle- 
gheny River  until  the  first  day  of  July  1911,  upon  the  condition  that 
it  shall  erect  and  have  completed  by  that  date  the  sewage  disposal 
plant  as  described  in  the  permit.  The  borough  went  ahead  and  made 
the  sewer  extensions  authorized  by  the  permit,  but  the  borough  neg- 
lected to  build  the  sewage  disposal  plant  and  at  the  conclusion  of 
the  year  1912,  it  had  not  built  the  plant  nor  made  any  physical  pre- 
paration for  carrying  out  the  plans  agreed  upon  in  the  permit.  On 
the  27th  day  of  June  1912,  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania,  en- 
tered suit  in  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  Dauphin  County,  for  the 
recovery  of  penalties  incurred  for  the  violation  of  the  Act  of  April 
22nd  1905,  for  the  construction  of  sewers  and  for  illegal  discharge 
of  sewage  into  State  waters. 

207 


During  1911,  an  outbreak  of  typhoid  fever  quite  widely  distri- 
buted, occurred  in  Tarentum  and  Brackenridge  among  the  con- 
sumers of  the  Allegheny  Valley  Water  Company  following  the  use 
of  raw  river  water  by  the  company  as  a  temporary  supply. 

During  July  of  1912,  typhoid  fiver  again  broke  out  and  the  De- 
partment, as  in  the  previous  year,  sent  representatives  of  the  En- 
gineering Division  to  find  the  cause  and  protect  the  water  supplies. 
The  management  of  the  water  works  system  has  been  very  unsatis- 
factory to  the  people.  On  June  lGth,  1908,  at  an  election  the  citizens 
authorized  an  increase  in  the  indebtedness  of  the  municipality  in 
the  sum  of  $100,000  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  municipal  water 
works  system.  The  water  company  endeavored  to  enjoin  the  issu- 
ance of  said  bonds,  but  lost  the  case.  On  January  4th,  1912,  the 
borough  made  application  to  the  Commissioner  of  Health  for  per- 
mission to  construct  the  system.  On  June  18th,  the  Commissioner 
of  Health  refused  such  permit  until  the  borough  should  obtain  satis- 
factory and  sufficient  proof  that  its  intended  source  of  water  supply 
from  drilled  wells  was  sufficient  in  quantity  and  quality  for  the 
needs  of  the  public.  In  spite  of  this  and  without  a  permit,  the  bor- 
ough purchased  a  tract  of  land  for  the  wells  and  pumping  station 
and  another  tract  of  land  for  the  reservoir,  and  then  subsequently 
the  borough  contracted  for  the  drilling  of  wells  and  paid  out  con- 
siderable sums  of  money  therefor,  and  in  June  the  borough  entered 
into  a  contract  for  the  construction  of  water  mains  in  the  streets. 
And,  therefore,  on  the  29th  day  of  July  1912,  the  Commissioner  of 
Health  issued  a  further  decree  refusing  to  approve  any  part  of  the 
system  until  the  information  required  in  the  former  decree  was 
forthcoming.  Soon  after  the  borough  demonstrated  that  it  had  made 
a  mistake,  that  the  money  expended  for  the  land  and  the  wells  had 
been  wasted,  because  pure  water  could  not  be  secured  in  sufficient 
quantity,  or  even  remotely  approximating  a  quantity  sufficient  to 
supply  the  needs  of  the  borough,  and,  hence,  the  State,  at  the  close 
of  the  year  1912,  had  prepared  to  restrain  the  borough  from  further 
proceeding  with  the  erection  of  a  municipal  water  plant  without  a 
permit,  and  it  will  endeavor  to  show  that  the  bond  issue  of  $100,000 
is  illegal  and  void,  as  contravening  the  constitutional  power  of  Tar- 
entum borough  to  borrow  money.  The  Department  insists  that  the 
borough  must  proceed  at  once  to  erect  and  put  in  operation  a  muni- 
cipal sewage  disposal  plant,  and  then,  if  there  be  money  enough,  the 
borough  may  proceed  to  construct  a  proper  and  approved  municipal 
water  works  system. 

Arnold  borough,  Westmoreland  County,  with  a  population  of 
2,000,  lies  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Allegheny  Eiver  about  twenty 
miles  above  the  river's  mouth,  and  has  for  its  southern  boundary 
New  Kensington.    Below  and  adjoining  New  Kensington  is  the  bor- 


268 


ough  of  Parnassus — the  three  towns  forming  practically  one  com- 
munity. The  plant  of  the  American  Window  Glass  Company  is  the 
dominant  industry,  covering  perhaps  fourteen  acres  and  giving  em- 
ployment to  about  1,000  persons,  who  reside  in  the  neighboring  bor- 
oughs. Other  industries  are  the  New  Kensington  Lumber  Company, 
employing  about  thirty  persons,  the  Peerless  Laundry,  with  about 
fifteen  employees,  and  the  Harold  Foundry  and  Machine  Company, 
with  about  twenty-five  employees.  The  latter  plant  is  partially  in 
the  borough  of  New  Kensington.  The  public  water  supply  of  Arnold 
and  of  New  Kensington  and  Parnassus  is  furnished  by  the  Kensing- 
ton Water  Company  and  is  obtained  from  filter  cribs  buried  in  the 
bed  of  the  river  about  200  feet  from  shore  and  about  1,000  feet  up- 
stream beyond  the  borough  of  Arnold.  Water  is  pumped  direct  to 
the  consumers  of  Arnold.  A  ten  million  gallon  reservoir,  concrete- 
lined,  furnishes  storage  and  sedimentation  during  about  three  days 
in  the  week,  when  the  pumps  are  shut  down.  The  filter  cribs  do  not 
afford  ample  purification.  In  fact,  the  water  in  the  mains  is  at 
times  quite  turbid  and,  presumably  as  a  consequence,  typhoid  is 
endemic.  In  the  borough  of  Arnold,  a  house  to  house  canvass  by  an 
officer  of  the  Engineering  Division  of  the  Department,  undertaken 
because  of  the  failure  of  local  physicians  to  repiort  cases,  revealed 
the  fact  that  there  were  at  least  twenty-one  cases  in  the  year  1907 
and.  five  cases  during  the  first  two  months  of  the  year  1908.  There 
were  probably  other  cases  unreported. 

The  Commissioner  of  Health  issued  an  order  requiring  the  water 
company  to  install  a  filter  plant.  On  April  2nd,  1912,  the  plans  for 
a  modern  mechanical  filtration  plant  were  submitted  for  approval 
and  they  were  approved  and  a  permit  was  issued  April  15,  1912. 
The  work  of  construction  has  been  going  on  and.  at  the  close  of  the 
year  1912,  the  filter  plant  was  practically  ready  for  operation. 

Arnold  is  building  a  public  sewer  system.  There  are  several 
private  sewers  with  numerous  connections  and  there  are  many  in- 
dividual private  sewers.  Probably  1,200  persons  in  this  borough  pol- 
lute the  river  with  sewage.  The  American  Window  Glass  Company's 
plant  has  three  sewers  taking  sewage,  roof  and  surface  drainage, 
and  industrial  wastes  to  the  river.  On  January  26th,  1911  the  bor- 
ough made  application  for  approval  of  plans  for  a  system  of  sew- 
erage and  sewage  disposal  works.  The  Department  suggested 
changes  in  the  plans.  The  borough  went  ahead  and  completed  the 
sewers  conforming  substantially  to  the  suggestions  made  but  with- 
out a  written  permit.  The  plans  called  for  a  trunk  sewer  down 
through  New  Kensington  and  Parnassus  borough  to  a.  pumping  sta- 
tion and  for  a  force  main  to  the  site  of  the  disposal  works  beyond 
Parnassus  Borough  up  the  valley  of  Pucketos  Creek  in  Lower  Burrell 
Township.  While  the  application  of  January  1911  asked  for  permis- 
sion to  discharge  untreated  sewage  into  the  Allegheny  Kiver  within 

18  209 


the  limits  of  the  borough,  the  plans  did  not  show  how  or  where  this 
was  to  be  done.  The  borough  at  tbe  close  of  1912,  is  discharging 
some  sewage  from  the  new  sanitary  sewers  into  an  old  storm  drain 
that  empties  into  the  river.  The  borough  stands  ready  to  join  with 
New  Kensington  and  Parnassus  in  a  project  to  build  and  operate 
the  trunk  sewer  and  disposal  works. 

New  Kensington  borough,  Westmoreland  County,  with  a  popula- 
tion of  6,800,  is  about  nineteen  miles  above  Pittsburgh  on  the  east 
bank  of  the  river  between  Arnold  borough  on  the  north  and  Par- 
nassus borough  on  the  south,  forming  with  these  boroughs  a  single 
community.  U  is  essentially  an  industrial  town,  its  industries  com- 
prising the  Pittsburgh  plant  and  the  Pennsylvania  plant  of  the 
American  Sheet  and  Tin  Plate  Company,  each  employing  in  the 
neighborhood  of  *  500  men;  the  Union  Spring  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, employing  70  men;  a  plant  of  the  Aluminum  Company  of 
America,  600  hands,  and  the  Commercial  Box  Company  employing 
about  50  hands.  The  water  is  supplied  by  the  Kensington  Water 
Company  described  under  Arnold.  Water  is  pumped  from  the  river 
cribs  direct  to  the  consumers  in  Arnold  and  New  Kensington  on  four 
days  a  week  during  which  time  the  10,000,000  gallon  reservoir  is  also 
tilled.  This  reservoir  supplies  Parnassus  continually,  and  Arnold 
and  New  Kensington  during  the  three  days  a  week  when  the  pumps 
are  not  in  operation.  The  partial  clarification  afforded  by  the  filter 
cribs  and  the  subsidence  obtained  in  the  reservoir  are  not  sufficient 
to  produce  a  safe  supply  and  the  new  mechanical  filtration  plant, 
built  during  the  year  1912,  is  practically  ready  for  operation.  The 
prevalence  of  typhoid  in  New  Kensington  has  doubtless  been  due  in 
a  large  measure  to  the  character  of  the  public  water.  In  1905  there 
were  in  ten  cases,  in  1906  there  were  thirty-six  cases,  and  in  1907 
there  were  thirty  cases  in  the  borough  of  New  Kensington.  In  the 
absence  of  reliable  records,  these  figures  were  obtained  from  a  house 
to  house  canvass  made  by  an  officer  of  the  Department.  At  the 
Pittsburgh  Plant  of  the  American  Sheet  and  Tin  Plate  Company, 
public  water  is  used  for  manufacturing  piurposes  to  the  extent  of 
about  323,000  gallons  a  day,  although  a  pump  on  the  river  bank  is 
kept  for  emergency  purposes.  Drinking  water  is  supplied  from  a 
private  deep  well  on  the  premises.  At  the  Pennsylvania  plant  of 
this  company  there  is  maintained  a  private  industrial  system  de- 
riving from  a  crib  in  the  river  about  12,000,000  gallons  a  day.  This 
water  is  largely  used  for  cooling  purposes,  while  a  driven  well  sup- 
plies drinking  water.  The  Union  Spring  and  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany has  a  deep  well  supply  for  drinking  water  and  an  industrial 
supply  from  the  river  for  cooling  and  hydraulic  purposes.  The 
Aluminum  Company  uses  the  public  water  but  has  a  private  filtra- 
tion plant  that  furnishes  water  to  the  men  to  drink. 


270 


New  Kensington  has  a  combined  system  of  sewers  discharging 
through  five  twenty-four  inch  outlets  to  the  river.  There  are  aboul 
eight  miles  of  sewers  in  the  system.  Besides  these  public  sewers, 
there  are  numerous  private  sewers  from  the  industrial  plants.  The 
entire  population  may  be  considered  to  contribute  sewage  to  the 
river.  The  Commissioner  of  Health  on  June  26,  L908,  issued  decrees 
substantially  alike  to  the  boroughs  of  New  Kensington  and  Par- 
nassus, urging  the  preparation  of  comprehensive  sewerage  and  sew- 
age disposal  plans  and  advising  co-operation  in  the  matter  of  dis- 
posal by  the  three  boroughs,  including  Arnold.  In  the  New  Ken- 
sington decree  the  following  statements  were  made  by  the  Com- 
missioner of  Health: 

"On  October  23rd,  1907,  a  citizen  of  New  Kensington  made  application  for  per- 
mission to  extend  the  borough  sewer  system  into  the  territory  of  the  adjoining  bor- 
ough of  Arnold  and  to  discharge  the  sewage  therefrom  through  existing  sewers 
into  the  Allegheny  River  within  the  limits  of  New  Kensington.  The  apphcant,  it 
appears,  was  compelled  to  seek  approval  of  his  plans  because  neither  New  Kensing- 
ton nor  Arnold  borough  authorities  would  make  a  formal  request  for  sewer  extension. 

"North  of  the  citv  of  Pittsburgh,  the  Allegheny  River  is  bounded  on  the  east 
bank  bv  rocky,  precipitous  ridge  which  rises  almost  from  the  water's  erlge  to  a 
height  of  several  hundred  feet,  there  being  so  little  room  at  the  foot  of  the  slope 
that  the  railroad  of  the  Buffalo  and  Allegheny  Valley  Division  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  System,  which  follows  up  this  valley,  is  located  at  many  places  in  excava- 
tions of  solid  rock.  Wherever  the  ridge  recedes  from  the  river  bank  sufficiently,  there 
a  town  has  been  located.  The  first  settlement  is  eleven  miles  above  the  confluence 
of  the  Allegheny  and  Monongahela  Rivers  and  comprises  the  boroughs  of  Verona 
and  Oakmont.  'The  next  settlement  begins  on  the  east  bank  of  the  river  six  miles 
above  Oakmont  and  extends  for  3.5  miles  northerly  and  comprises  in  order  up 
stream  the  boroughs  of  Parnassus  (population  2,200),  New  Kensington  ("popula- 
tion 6,800)  and  Arnold  (population  1,600).  There  is  no  line  on  the  ground  to 
mark  the  division  of  the  municipal  boundaries,  it  being  all  one  community  to  the 
observer. 

"The  railroad  parallels  the  river  at  the  foot  of  the  hillsides  and  distant  from  the 
river  about  1,500  feet.  Here  is  a  level  plateau  of  sedimentary  formation,  elevated 
fifteen  feet  above  the  highest  freshet  recorded,  on  which  along  the  river  bank  are 
located  the  industrial  plants  which  support  the  community  and  where  the  stores 
and  offices  are  located  and  the  older  portion  of  the  town.  East  of  the  railroad 
the  hill  slopes  are  not  so  steep  as  to  preclude  occupation  by  dwellings.  And  here 
in  New  Kensington  and  Arnold  the  newer  residences  have  been  erected  and  future 
developments  will  mostly  occur.  In  Parnassus  there  is  no  hillside,  it  being  located 
on  a  level  peninsula  formed  at  the  confluence  of  the  river  and  the  Pucketa 
Creek.  Quite  a  wide  flat  valley  extends  back  from  the  river  up  this  creek  course, 
where  in  the  future  it  is  probable,  as  the  district  grows,  that  a  large  town  may 
be  located. 

"Parnassus  is  the  older  settlement,  dating  back  to  the  provincial  times.  It  is 
largely  residential  and  many  of  its  citizens  are  employed  at  Pittsburgh.  The 
streets  are  permanently  paved  with  brick,  there  is  a  public  water  supply  and  com- 
bined sewer  system  and  the  town  is  in  a  nourishing  financial  condition.  Its  bor- 
rowing capacity  is  reported  to  be  approximately  $60,000. 

"New  Kensington  and  Arnold  boroughs  are  distinctively  industrial  communities 
supported  by  the  plants  in  operation  within  their  limits.  Arnold  was  set  off  from 
New  Kensington  borough  about  ten  years  ago  and  it  is  reported  to  be  almost  a 
certainty  that  the  district  will  again  be  incorporated  within  New  Kensineton 
boundaries.  The  latter  place  has  a  combined  sewer  system,  well  paved  streets 
on  the  flats,  and  a  liberal  borrowing  capacity,  its  constitutional  debt  limit  not 
having  been  approached.  The  assessed  valuation,  from  figures  now  at  hand,  is 
$3,350,000  and  the  bonded  indebtedness  $118,000.  The  above  statement  bein?  true, 
the  municipal  credit  should  be  good  for  $116,000.  The  borough  of  Arnold  also 
appears  to  be  well  off  financially  if  the  reports  be  true,  which  show  an  assessed 
valuation  of  $810,000,  and  a  bonded  indebtedness  of  $S,000.  equivalent  to  a  borrowing 
capacity  of  $4S,000  or  thereabouts.  However,  streets  are  unpaved,  there  are  no 
public  sewers  and  many  nuisances  exist  in  this  town.  The  inhabitants  are  of  the 
less  resourceful  class,  largely  foreigners  and  non-taxpayers  and  continually  on 
the  move. 

"The  water  supply  to  all  three  boroughs  is  obtained  from  the  Allegheny  River 
and  is  furnished  by  the  Kensington  Water  Company.  The  source  is  known  to  be 
polluted  by  sewage  and  the  presence  of  turbid  water  in  the  pipes  of  the  water  dis- 


271 


triet  is  ample  evidence  that  sewage  organisms  may  pass  the  cribs  and  also  be  present 
in  the  water.  Records  of  tvphoid  fever  eases  in  the  three  boroughs  are  not  reliable; 
but  the  data  herein  given  are  substantia]  enough   to  indicate  the  necessity  in  the 

interests  of  public  health  in  the  district,  of  measures  being  taken  to  keep  sewage  in- 
fection out  of  the  supplv.  An  officer  of  the  Department  made  a  house  to  house 
canvass  and  found  that  in  the  water  district  for  the  years  1905,  1906  and  1907,  the 
cases  totalled  twentv-one.  fifty  and  fifty-six,  rsepectively.  It  should  be  borne  in 
mind  that  a  house  to  house  canvas,  particularly  in  Arnold  where  the  foreigners 
are  a  roving  class,  frequently  changing  residence,  would  fail  to  show  all  of  the 
cases.  Undoubtedly  tvphoid  fever  has  been  much  more  widespread  in  the  water 
district  than  would  appear  from  the  above  figures.  The  local  physicians  fail  to 
report  the  cases. 

"On  the  hillsides  in  Arnold  and  New  Kensington  boroughs  there  are  a  few  out- 
cropping springs,  walled  up  but  not  enclosed,  possibly  liable  to  surface  pollution, 
which  are  in  use  by  the  citizens  of  the  neighborhood.  And  there  are  some  dug 
wells  on  the  hillsides.  All  told,  there  may  be  thirty  such  individual  sources  of 
drinking  water.  Six  are  reported  to  be  in  Arnold.  On  the  flats  of  this  place 
public  water  is  said  to  be  exclusively  used  except  at  the  industries.  On  the  flats 
at  New  Kensington  there  are  perhaps  fifteen  dug  wells  in  use,  besides  wells  .it 
some  of  the  mills.  Parnassus  borough  seems  to  be  entirely  supplied  with  public 
water,  except  at  the  works  on  the  river  bank. 

"There  seems  to  be  no  reason  why,  provided  the  New  Kensington  authorities  are 
willing  to  permit  the  connection,  the  proposed  sewer  should  not  be  approved,  pro- 
vided still  further,  that  the  extension  be  made  under  the  auspices  of  the  munici- 
pality. Whatever  negotiation  the  borough  council  may  make  with  a  contractor 
or  abutting  land  owner  about  the  payment  for  a  sewer  is  not  a  question  within  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  State  Department  of  Health;  neither  is  it  within  the  jurisdiction 
of  the  State  to  consider  the  application  of  an  individual  for  the  extension  of  a 
public  sewer  system.  It  is  to  be  presumed  that  the  municipalities  do  not  want 
the  proposed  sewer  extension  else  they  would  apply  for  it. 

"But  State  sanction  to  the  indefinite  discharge  of  sewage  from  the  New  Kensing- 
ton sewers  or  from  private  sources  into  the  Allegheny  River,  or  any  tributary 
thereof,  could  not  be  consistently  given.  It  is  the  policy  of  the  Commonwealth  to 
preserve  the  purity  of  the  waters  of  the  State  for  the  protection  of  the  public  health. 
The  very  best  apparatus  which  man  can  devise  for  the  purification  of  sewage  polluted 
waters  is  not  absolutely  germ  proof  and  in  case  of  accident  or  breakdown,  human  life 
is  in  jeopardy  and  usually  sacrificed  following  the  introduction  of  polluted  water 
into  the  water  pipes  of  the  town.  It  is  the  bounden  duty  of  the  State  Department 
of  Health  to  stop  the  discharge  of  sewage  into  the  Allegheny  River  above  the 
intake  of  the  Kensington  Water  Company.  This  cannot  be  brought  about  imme- 
diately. The  municipalities  on  the  banks  of  the  river  below  New  Kensington 
now  take  their  drinking  waters  from  the  river  and  must  continue  to  do  so  and 
hence  the  borough  of  New  Kensington  must  in  turn  cease  to  discharge  sewage  into 
the  stream.  While  this  cannot  be  done  immediately,  steps  can  be  taken  without 
delay  in  the  preparation  of  plans  for  the  treatment  of  the  borough  sewage. 

"The  intercepting  sewer  to  be  provided  for  the  collection  of  the  flow  from  all  of  the 
public  sewers  should  also  be  planned  to  take  the  flow  from  private  sewers.  While 
the  State  Department  of  Health  must  order  the  owners  of  all  private  sewers 
in  the  borough  to  discontinue  the  discharge  of  sewage  into  the  river,  the  most 
efficient  and  desirable  plan  would  be  for  the  municipality  to  lay  a  trunk  sewer 
to  serve  all  sewers.  This  is  the  common  policy.  It  seems  probable  that  the  site 
best  adapted  for  the  erection  of  a  sewage  disposal  plant  will  be  found  outside 
of  the  limits  of  New  Kensington  borough  and  that  in  reaching  this  site  the 
territory  of  an  adjoining  municipality  must  be  traversed.  In  fact  the  cheapest  and 
best  solution  of  the  improved  sewerage  and  sewage  disposal  problem  for  the 
boroughs  of  Arnold,  New  Kensington  and  Parnassus  will  be  a  joint  project  of 
interception  and  purification  rather  than  an  independent  one  for  each  borough. 
Parnassus  now  has  a  system  of  sanitary  sewers  emptying  into  the  river  whose 
discharge  must  cease  within  a  reasonable  time.  Arnold  borough  does  not  have 
a  system  of  sewers,  but  is  in  need  of  such  a  system.  The  study  of  the  treatment 
of  New  Kensington  sewage  involves  the  study  of  a  modification  to  some  extent  of 
the  existing  sewers,  because  it  would  not  be  practicable  to  intercept  the  storm 
water  discharge  of  the  existing  sewers  and  convey  it  to  a  treatment  plant. 

"Since  New  Kensington  and  Parnassus  are  in  a  financial  position  to  make  a 
beginning  towards  the  ultimate  treatment  of  their  sewages,  there  appears  to  be  no 
good  reason  why  this  should  not  be  ordered  and  more  especially  since  neither  bor- 
ough availed  itself  of  the  exemption  clause  of  the  law  of  nineteen  hundred  and 
five,  and  the  emptying  of  sewage  into  the  Allegheny  River  at  these  places  jeopardizes 
public  health  at  Oakmont  and  Verona  in  the  Greater  Pittsburgh  district  and  other 
places  lower  down  the  valley. 

"In  view  of  the  foresoing  considerations,  it  has  been  unanimously  agreed  by  the 
Governor,  Attorney  General  and  Commissioner  of  Health  that  the  petitioner  be 
notified,  and  I  have  so  notified  him,  that  the  interests  of  the  public  health  demand 
that  crude  sewage  cease  to  be  discharged  into  the  waters  of  the  State  in  New 
Kensington  borough  or  vicinity,  and  that  as  soon  as  the  borough  of  New  Kensington 


272 


will  in  good  faith  notify  the  State  Department  of  Health  of  its  intention  to  prepare 
plans  for  the  treatment  of  the  municipal  sewage  and  make  an  application  for  th<: 
sewer  which  the  petitioner  wishes  to  build,  a  conditional  permit  may  be  issued  for 
this  particular  sewer. 

"The  Commissioner  of  Health  will  notify  the  owners  of  the  industrial  plants 
above  mentioned  that  they  must  stop  putting  sewage  into  the  waters  of  the  St;ite; 
but  that  the  most  economical  and  efficient  way  of  doing  this  should  be  for  them  to 
connect  with  the  sewer  to  be  provided  by  the  borough  for  the  conveyance  of 
all  sewage  in  the  town  to  a  common  purification  plant.  The  State  Department  of 
Health  will  defer  action  with  respect  to  private  sewer  outlets  into  the  river  for  the 
present  pending  the  determination  by  the  borough  of  New  Kensington  of  the  details 
of  such  improved  sewerage  and  sewage  disposal  problem. 

"It  has  also  been  unanimously  agreed  that  the  Commissioner  of  Health  notify, 
and  I  do  hereby  and  herein  notify  the  borough  council  of  the  borough  of  New  Ken- 
sington that  public  health  is  being  jeopardized  by  the  discharge  of  its  sewage  into 
the  Allegheny  River  and  by  the  discharge  of  sewage  from  the  sewers  in  the  borough 
of  Parnassus  and  that,  therefore,  New  Kensington  borough  shall,  either  alone  or 
jointly  with  Parnassus,  prepare  plans  for  the  interception  of  all  of  the  sewage  in 
the  municipal  territory  and  for  its  conveyance  to  and  treatment  in  a  purification 
plant,  and  that  said  plans  shall  be  submitted  to  the  Commissioner  of  Health  for 
approval  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  .January,  1909. 

"The  local  authorities  are  hereby  requested  to  make  an  examination  and  test 
of  all  private  wells  and  spring  water  used  for  drinking  purposes  and  if  such  water 
be  found  contaminated,  then  the  local  authorities  should  and  they  are  hereby 
requested  to  bring  about  the  abandonment  of  such  polluted  well  or  spring.  The 
local  board  of  health  is  requested  to  warn  the  public  that  absolute  safety  requires 
that  the  public  drinking  water  shall  be  boiled." 

On  October  31st,  1908,  the  borough  of  New  Kensington  asked  per- 
mission to  lay  a  sewer  in  Victoria  Avenue.  At  that  time  nothing 
had  been  done  towards  preparing  comprehensive  sewerage  plans  in 
conformity  with  the  decree  of  June  1908.  Therefore,  no  action  was 
taken  on  this  application  but  on  September  27th,  1909,  the  author- 
ities of  New  Kensington  were  notified  that  the  Commissioner  of 
Health  had  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  Attorney  General  the  matter 
of  the  enforcement  of  Act  182  of  1905,  with  respect  to  the  discharge 
of  municipal  sewage  from  New  Kensington  sewers  into  the  waters 
of  the  State.  After  several  conferences  the  borough  employed  a  con- 
sulting engineer  and  in  December  1911,  comprehensive  plans  for  a 
sewerage  system  and  sewage  disposal  works  were  submitted.  In  the 
decree  Issued  by  the  Commissioner  of  Health  on  January  15th,  1912, 
the  situation  was  discussed  as  follows: 

"These  plans  were  submitted  pursuant  to  the  approval  of  the  sewerage  committee 
of  the  council  of  New  Kensington,  on  December  5th,  1911.  The  site  selected  for 
the  sewage  works  is  in  Westmoreland  County,  near  the  public  highway  which 
extends  up  the  valley  of  Pucketa  Creek.  Opposite  this  site  in  Allegheny  'County, 
there  is  a  tract  of  land  more  secluded  upon  which  it  is  feasible  to  locate  a  plant. 

"The  borough  of  New  Kensington  is  amply  able  financially  to  assume  the  ex- 
pense of  a  purification  plant  for  its  sewage  and  it  is  understood  that  the  local 
authorities  are  not  averse  to  undertaking  the  project  providing  the  adjacent  boroughs 
are  compelled  to  do  the  same.  The  State  having  failed  to  bring  about  a  co-opera- 
tion between  the  three  municipalities  hereinbefore  mentioned,  cannot  delav  taking 
up  with  each  municipality  separately  the  matter  of  compelling  some  other 'disposal 
of  the  sewage  than  into  the  Allegheny  River.  There  appearing  to  be  no  reason' whv 
New  Kensington  should  longer  postpone  the  time  for  treatment  of  its  sewage 
and  there  also  appearing  to  be  many  reasons  why  the  public  health  demand  this 
improvement,  the  State  must  proceed  to  order  and  decree  that  sewage  works  be 
erected  immediately.  It  appears  that  plans  submitted  are  worked  out  sufficiently 
in  detail  to  show  the  feasibility  of  the  project  offered  for  approval.  It  will  be 
a  matter  of  a  few  weeks  at  the  most  before  detail  plans  for  construction  can  be 
prepared,  a  site  definitely  selected  and  the  plans  therefor  submitted  to  the  Com- 
missioner of  Health  for  approval.  Meantime,  certain  sections  of  New  Kensington 
are  suffering,   it  appears,   for  sewerage  facilities  and  the  ends  of  justice  and   the 


273 


interests  of  public  health  will  be  subserved  by  granting  to  the  borough  the  right 
to  extend  its  sewer  system  in  conformity  with  the  plans  now  before  the  Depart- 
ment for  approval,  provided  the  borough  will  pledge  itself  to  submit  said  detail 
plans  for  the  sewage  disposal  works  to  the  Commissioner  of  Health  within  a  \'cw 
weeks  and  after  the  same  have  been  approved  or  amended  to  begin  the  construction 
of  the  works." 

Parnassus,  ^Westmoreland  County,  with  a  population  of  2,200,  has 
been  fully  described  under  New  Kensington.  Us  industries  com- 
prise ilie  Sterling  Works  of  the  National  Lead  and  Oil  Company, 
employing  about  sixty  persons  in  1  lie  manufacture  of  white  lead, 
the  Phoenix  Clay  Company  with  fifty  employees,  the  Globe  Wire 
Company  with  twenty-five  employees,  the  Standard  Railway  Equip- 
ment Company  with  twenty  employees,  J.  W.  Logan  and  Sons 
Lumber  Company  and  the  Electric  Renovator  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany. As  already  stated,  the  public  supply  for  Parnassus  is  the 
same  as  for  New  Kensington  and  Arnold.  The  National  Lead  and 
Oil  Company  take  water  from  the  river  for  industrial  purposes. 
The  other  plants  use  the  public  supply  for  manufacturing  and  several 
of  them  have  private  wells  for  drinking  water.  Parnassus  has  a 
combined  sewer  system  with  pipe  ranging  in  size  from  eight  to 
twenty-four  inches  in  diameter,  aggregating  in  length  about  five 
miles  and  discharging  into  the  river  by  way  of  four  outlets  each 
twenty-four  inches  in  diameter.  About  150  privies  are  in  use.  The 
manufactural  wastes  contributed  by  the  National  Lead  and  Oil  Com- 
pany, amounting  to  about  5,000  gallons  a  day,  contain  a  trace  of 
lead  and  some  acetic  acid. 

Up  to  the  close  of  the  year  1912,  the  borough  of  Parnassus  had 
done  nothing  more  than  attend  conferences  in  Harrisburg  between  the 
Commissioner  of  Health  and  representatives  of  the  adjoining  bor- 
oughs of  New  Kensington  and  Arnold  and  to  promise  to  join  in  a 
common  sewer  system  and  disposal  works  when  the  other  places  were 
ready  to  combine.  If  the  State  is  successful  in  its  suit  with  Tar- 
entum  borough  the  situation  will  be  materially  cleared  up  at  New 
Kensington  and  the  other  places. 

Springdale,  Allegheny  County,  with  a  population  of  2,500  was  in- 
corporated as  a  borough  in  1906.  It  is  a  manufacturing  community 
and  residential  town  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Allegheny  River  about 
sixteen  miles  from  the  river's  mouth.  The  industries  consist  of  the 
Heidenkamp  Plate  Glass  and  Mirror  Company,  and  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Glue  Company,  the  Cornier  employing  about  ,°>00  hands  and  the 
latter  employing  about  170  hands.  People  quite  generally  obtain 
their  drinking  water  from  private  drilled  wells,  a  few  dug  wells  and 
a  number  of  springs.  One  of  the  springs  is  owned  by  P>.  L.  Elliott. 
It  was  the  source  of  supiply  of  the  Elliott  Nursery  Company,  the 
Neff  Greenhouses  and  forty-seven  families.  The  Springdale  Water 
Company  has  a   drilled  well    and   pumping  plant.     The  water  is 


274 


raised  from  the  well  into  wooden  tanks.  The  distributing  system 
consists  of  about.  6,000  feet  of  pipe  four  inches  in  diameter  and  3,800 
feet  of  two  inch  pipe.  In  October  1908,  the  Commissioner  of  Health 
permitted  this  company  to  extend  its  distributing  pipe  system.  In 
that  permit  was  the  following  statement: 

"While  it  is  at  once  evident  that  the  water  works  system  is  limited  and  not 
adapted  to  supply  the  entire  borough  with  any  considerable  amount  of  water,  and 
while  it  is  also  apparent  that  if  the  water  company  should  purpose  at.  any  time 
to  supply  the  industrial  plants  or  to  afford  fire  protection,  it  would  lie  necessary  to 
lay  entirely  new  lines  of  pipe  of  larger  diameters  in  the  streets,  nevertheless,  it 
cannot  be  determined  from  the  evidence  now  before  the  Department  that  Die  existing 
supply  for  drinking  purposes  is  prejudicial  to  public  health.  Undoubtedly  the 
company  will,  in  proper  time,  and  when  there  is  a  prospect  of  adequate  revenue, 
introduce  material  changes  in  the  water  works  system." 

No  improvements  of  any  moment  were  made.  It  being  the  desire  of 
the  citizens  to  have  a  water  works  system  extensive  and  ample  to 
afford  fire  protection  as  well  as  a  supiply  of  water  for  domestic  pur- 
poses, the  proposition  of  authorizing  bonds  to  be  issued  in  the  sum 
of  |72,000  for  water  works,  sewerage  and  street  improvements  was 
submitted  to  the  voters  in  March  1911.  The  local  authorities  re- 
quested approval  of  the  proposed  municipal  water  works  system  be- 
fore the  question  of  a  bond  issue  was  put  to  the  people.  The  plans 
were  approved  by  the  Commissioner  of  Health  on  March  21st,  1911, 
it  being  understood  that  favorable  action  would  be  taken.  The  sys- 
tem proposed  was  to  consist  of  drilled  wells,  a  pumping  station,  a 
storage  reservoir,  and  the  pipes  in  the  streets.  At  the  end  of  the 
year  1912,  the  borough  had  purchased  a  tract  of  land  on  a  hill 
elevated  350  feet  higher  than  town  and  back  about  a  mile  therefrom. 
On  this  land  a  number  of  wells  had  been  drilled  and  a  storage  reser- 
voir constructed.  The  pumping  station  was  located  at  the  wells  and 
the  pipe  lines  have  been  laid  in  the  streets. 


In  the  said  permit  of  the  Commissioner  of  Health,  the  following 
statements  were  made  by  the  Commissioner  of  Health: 

"In  case  it  is  not  practicable  to  obtain  an  abundance  of  pure  water  from  the 
drilled  well  system,  it  is  the  intention  of  the  town  to  filter  Allegheny  River  water 
and  to  supply  this  to  the  system.  With  this  contingency  in  view,  the  distributing 
pipe  has  been  designed.  A  ten  inch  main  has  been  laid  out  for  the  entire  length 
of  Colfax  Road.  The  pumping  station  and  filter  plant  will  be  located  near  the 
foot  of  this  road,  the  filtered  water  will  be  pumped  into  this  main  and  into  the 
distributing  pipe  system  of  the  town  and  the  surplus  water  will  overflow  to  the 
storage  reservoir.  It  would  be  better  for  the  local  authorities  to  plan  to  locate 
the  river  intake  and  filter  plant  at  a  point  up  stream  above  the  glue  works  where 
a  more  desirable  raw  water  may  be  had.  It  does  not  follow  because  a  filter  plant 
can  be  designed  and  operated  to  render  an  objectionable  water  fairly  safe  that 
the  source  of  supply  can  be  selected  regardless  of  the  quality  of  the  raw  water, 
since  filter  plants  do  not  take  out  all  of  the  matter  and  in  event  of  their  breaking 
down  or  becoming  particularly  inefficient,  an  infection  may  pass  through  the  filter 
into  the  water  pipe  system  and  cause  a  widespread  epidemic.  It  is  quite  essential 
that  as  good  raw  water  as  practicable  be  obtained  in  the  first  place. 

"The  town  is  wide-awake  relative  to  the  importance  of  providing  facilities  to 
get  rid  of  the  water  after  it  becomes  soiled  in  the  household.  The  proposed  sewer 
system  will  cost  $35,000.  The  proposed  water  works  system  will  require  an 
expenditure  of  about  $60,000,  the  outfall  sewer  and  sewage  disposal  works  will 
cost,   with   the  land,   more  than   $35,000.     The  assessed   valuation   of  property   in 

275 


Springdale  is  $1,800,000.  There  is  no  bonded  indebtedness.  The  borough  can. 
therefore,  borrow  $126,000;  but  this  is  not  enough  t<>  pay  for  the  building  of  the 
water  works  system  and  the  sewerage  and  sewage  disposal  system.  If  the  borough 
accepts  the  sewerage  permit  of  the  Commissioner  of  Health,  there  will  be  a  con- 
tingent obligation  on  the  part  of  the  local  authorities  to  save  o  sufficient  portion 
of  its  moneys  to  cancel  its  obligation  to  build  outfall  sewers  and  sewage  disposal 
works  at  the  time  required.  By  joining  with  Cheswick  borough  and  by  building 
the  sewers  on  the  assessment  plan,  it  is  possible  perhaps  to  finance  both  the 
water  works  and  sewerage  projects.  Certainly  the  increased  sewage  resulting 
from  a  more  liberal  use  of  water  ought  not  to  be  emptied  into  the  ground  near  the 
wells  or  springs,  and  certain  it  is,  the  abandonment  of  these  wells  and  springs  will 
be  hastened  by  an  adequate  public  water  supply.  So  far  as  the  pollution  of  the 
river  is  concerned,  the  situation  to-day  is  to  be  preferred  over  that  after  sewers  will 
have  been  built  in  Springdale  and  the  sewage  is  discharged  into  the  river.  The 
taxpayers  and  citizens  of  Springdale  must  understand  that  the  temporary  right 
granted  to  the  town  to  empty  its  sewage  into  the  river  is  given  for  the  express 
purpose  of  aiding  in  the  sanitary  improvement  of  conditions  on  each  premise  in 
the  borough;  but  that  it  is  given  under  the  express  stipulation  that  the  community 
will  at  the  earliest  practical  moment  erect  sewage  disposal  works  and  treat  the 
sewage.  It  will  not  do  for  the  local  authorities  or  the  citizens  to  lightly  treat 
this  decree  or  to  proceed  in  a  careless  way  to  expend  all  money  available  regardless 
of  the  obligation  of  the  borough  to  treat  its  sewage  in  the  near  future." 


The  borough  of  Springdale  in  January  1911,  asked  permission  to 
install  a  comprehensive  system  of  sanitary  sewers  and  for  the  dis- 
charge of  sewage  temporarily  into  the  Allegheny  River.  The  muni- 
cipal territory  has  a  river  frontage  of  about  two  miles  and  extends 
back  from  the  river  about  a  mile  to  the  summits  of  the  hillside.  The 
village  lies  on  the  flats  along  the  river  front  and  back  to  the  Pitts- 
burgh and  Freeport  Road  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile.  This  section 
has  a  gentle  slope  to  the  Allegheny  and  is  elevated  above  freshets. 
Beyond  the  fiats  the  land  rises  on  gradual  grades  to  an  elevation  of 
about  300  feet.  Thus  excellent  natural  drainage  facilities  are  af- 
forded. The  Pennsylvania  Railroad  tracks  parallel  the  river  and 
are  distant  therefrom  about  400  feet.  Most  of  the  buildings  are 
located  between  the  Railroad  and  Freeport  Road.  Colfax  Road  is 
the  main  thoroughfare  extending  northerly  from  the  river  out  into 
the  township.  The  drainage  of  the  borough  is  either  directly  into 
the  river  or  into  two  small  tributaries,  Tweneys  Run  (or  Shoups 
Run)  and  an  unnamed  water  course.  Tweneys  Run  rises  out  in  the 
township  3.5  miles  distant,  drains  a  hilly  country,  sparsely  popu- 
lated and  empties  into  the  Allegheny  River  within  the  borough 
limits  near  the  down  stream  boundary  of  Springdale.  There  is  a 
switch  from  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  which  extends  up  the  valley 
of  this  run  to  the  Harwood  Coal  Mines.  Tt  is  in  this  valley  near  the 
Freeport  Road  that  sites  have  been  selected  upon  which  to  erect 
sewage  disposal  works.  The  Heidenkamp  works  are  along  the  bank 
of  the  river  immediately  below  the  Federal  Lock  Dam.  A  twenty- 
four  inch  sewer  which  also  receives  the  waste  from  the  grinders  dis- 
charges into  the  river  at  the  lower  end  of  the  plant. 

The  Glue  Works  are  situated  along  the  river  bank  just  above  the 
Government  Dam.  Driuking  Avater  is  obtained  from  drilled  wells 
located  on  the  premises  and  water  for  industrial  purposes  is  obtained 


276 


from  the  river.  The  industrial  wastes  and  sewage  are  discharged 
into  a  cement  sedimentation  tank.  The  fats  are  removed  from  the 
surface  of  small  tanks  and  are  sold  at  a  profit,  the  liquid  effluent 
reaching  the  river.  This  plant  was  installed  by  order  of  the  Com- 
missioner of  Heal  Hi.  Ft  was  the  intention  of  the  Department  that 
the  effluent  from  the  sedimentation  plant  which  is  merely  sewage 
from  which  the  heavier  suspended  matters  have  been  removed  should 
be  subjected  to  treatment  at  the  time  the  sewage  of  Springdale 
borough  was  subjected  to  treatment  and  preferably  at  the  same 
point.  Therefore,  the  sewage  from  the  Glue  "Works  bears  an  import- 
ant relationship  to  the  problem  of  sewage  collection  and  disposal 
for  the  borough.  It  is  estimated  that  2,500,000  gallons  of  water  are 
used  industrially  at  the  Glue  Works  each  twenty-four  hours. 

In  the  proposed  system,  sanitary  sewers  are  to  be  built  and  con- 
nected to  all  houses.  The  existing  drains  will  be  used  for  storm 
water  only. 

In  the  permit  approving  the  Springdale  sewerage  system  issued 
March  16th,  1911,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  had  the  following 
statements  to  make: 

"The  majority  of  the  members  of  the  borough  councils  of  both  Cheswick  and 
Springdale  have  declared  informally  to  representatives  of  the  State  Department  of 
Health  that  they  were  prepared,  if  so  required,  to  jointly  consider  and  make  plans 
for  sewage  disposal  works  where  the  sewage  of  both  municipalities  could  be 
treated.  In  fact,  the  permit  of  1910  to  Cheswick  borough  was  issued  with  the  general 
understanding  that  Cheswick  would  co-operate  with  Springdale  in  the  selection _  and 
purchase  of  a  site  in  or  along  the  valley  of  Shoups  Run  for  the  erection  jointly 
by  the  two  municipalities  of  a  sewage  disposal  plant  and  that  these  two  places 
would  jointly  prepare  plans  and  estimates  of  cost  for  sewage  works  and  submit 
them  to  the  Commissioner  of  Health  for  approval. 

"Springdale  borough  has  an  assessed  valuation  in  round  numbers  of  $1,800,000, 
and  there  is  at  present  no  bonded  indebtedness.  If  the  proposed  bond  issue  of 
$72,000  carries,  then  the  municipal  borrowing  capacity  will  be  $54,000.  Still 
further,  if  the  cost  of  the  sewers  be  assessed,  two-thirds  on  the  abutting  properties 
and  one-third  on  the  municipality,  the  borough  will  be  in  a  financial  condition 
permitting  it  to  make  some  material  progress  towards  the  purification  of  the  town's 
sewage  in  the  near  future.  Cheswick  borough  is  not  so  well  situated  financially; 
but  it  is  in  a  position  to  assume  its  share  of  the  cost  of  preparing  plans  and  of  pur- 
chasing the  site  for  the  disposal  works.  These  plans  should  be  prepared  without 
delay  and  the  boundaries  of  the  land  necessary  for  the  works  should  be  defined  and 
the  land  should  be  acquired  jointly  by  the  boroughs  if  possible.  The  Glue  Company 
might  prefer  to  enter  into  a  contract  with  the  municipality  to  pay  an  annual  rental 
for  the  use  of  the  public  sewer  system  and  sewage  disposal  works  rather  than  pay 
a  proportionate  share  of  the  cost  of  the  erection  of  the  plant.  All  of  the  liquid 
wastes  of  the  glue  works  that  is  sewage  must,  at  the  time  the  borough  treats  its 
sewage,  be  also  treated,  and  it  should  be  more  economical  for  the  company  and 
for  the  municipality  to  have  one  plant  in  which  this  treatment  would  be  effected 
rather  than  to  have  independent  plants." 

The  borough  was  required  to  prepare  plans  either  alone  or  with 
the  borough  of  Cheswick  for  sewage  disposal  works  upon  a  site  to 
be  designated  and  submit  them  for  approval  before  July  1st,  1912. 

On  July  11th,  1912,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  extended  the  time 
for  the  preparation  of  plans.  In  this  decree  the  following  state- 
ments were  made: 

"The  policy  of  the  State  Department  of  Health  is  to  bring  about  the  treatment 
of  the  sewage  of  Springdale  at  the  earliest  practicable  moment,  because  the 
waters  are  used  as  a  source  of  water  supply  by  the  public  at  several  points  along 

277 


the  river  below  Springdale.  This  dues  not  necessarily  mean  that  a  complete 
sewage  disposal  plant  by  moans  of  which  organic  matter  may  be  reduced  to 
inorganic  form  shall  be  built  and  operated  by  the  borough  of  Springdale  in  the 
immediate  future:  but  it  is  the  intention  of  the  State  that  some  modification  of 
the  sewage  of  Springdale  shall  be  brought  about  without  delay  and  having  this  in 
mind,  the  borough  of  Springdale  was  permitted  to  install  its  sewers  and  to  dis- 
charge its  sewage  temporarily  into  the  river.  There  is  no  sufficient  reason  known 
to  the  Department  why  Springdale  borough  should  not  proceed  forthwith  to  prepare 
plans  called  for,  in  the  decree  of  March  lb,  1911,  and  when  these  plans  shall  have 
been  submitted  to  the  State  Department  of  Health  it  will  be  time  enough  to  con- 
sider to  what  degree  the  sewage  of  Springdale  shall  be  modified,  taking  into 
account  the  financial  condition  of  Springdale  and  other  pertinent  matters.-' 

The  borough  of  Chesw ick,  Allegheny  County,  population  about 
^00,  is  a  residential  community  located  about  fifteen  miles  above  of 
Pittsburgh  on  the  west  bank  of  the  river.  The  industries  comprise 
the  Pittsburgh  Tool  and  Drop  Forge  Company,  employing  fifty 
hands  and  the  Elias  Block  Distillery.  Truck  gardening  is  carried 
on  to  quite  an  extent.  The  eastern  or  up  stream  half  of  the  borough 
is  supplied  with  water  by  a  private  company  known  as  the  Ches- 
wick  Water  Company.  The  source  is  a  drilled  well.  Copious 
springs  furnish  drinking  water  to  the  greater  part  of  the  popula- 
tion. Sewage  is  generally  disposed  of  into  cesspools  or  privy  vaults, 
a  practice  that  has  resulted  in  the  pollution  and  abandonment  of 
many  of  these  springs.  Trouble  caused  by  overflowing  cesspools 
finally  resulted  in  the  designing  of  a  sewerage  system  which  has  been 
the  subject  of  several  decrees. 

The  first  decree  was  issued  in  June  1908.  In  this  decree  the  fol- 
lowing statements  were  made  by  the  Commissioner  of  Health: 

"Nearly  all  the  houses  in  this  district  (Eastern  half),  probably  thirty-two,  are 
fitted  with  bath  rooms  and  inside  water  closets.  These  dwellings  and  other 
contemplated  for  the  neighborhood  are  of  modern  type  and  require  the  latest 
sanitary  facilities  for  the  comfort  of  the  owners.  The  character  of  the  ground  is 
such  that  except  in  a  few  locations  on  the  flats  underlaid  by  beds  of  alluvial 
gravel,  successful  house  drainage  by  means  of  cesspools  is  practically  impossible. 
Most  of  the  hilltops  and  slope  property  is  underlaid  by  several  veins  of  clay 
practically  impervious  to  water,  from  which  flow  mimerous  springs.  The  present 
method  of  sewage  disposal  of  most  of  the  houses  is  into  cesspools  or  privy  vaults. 
Those  located  on  the  flats  are  purposely  made  of  the  percolating  type  and  have 
given  reasonable  satisfaction  for  a  short  period — from  two  to  seven  years — when  they 
become  clogged  up.  There  are  no  springs  on  the  flats.  There  is  at  least  one  well 
in  this  district  and  the  slopes  in  the  eastern  district  where  are  the  water 
pipes  there  remains  one  spring  in  use.  The  reason  for  abandonment  of  the  numerous 
springs  formerly  used  for  drinking  water  was  the  overflowing  of  the  cesspools  on 
the  hillside  and  the  danger  of  underground  contamination  of  the  sources  of  water 
supply. 

"The  local  authorities  purpose  to  take  up  the  present  fifteen  inch  private  sewer 
in  Allegheny  Avenue  from  the  railroad  northerly  and  relay  it  at  a  lower  elevation 
and  make  it  the  trunk  sewer  of  the  sewer  system  for  the  eastern  district.  A 
lateral  is  provided  in  every  street  now  laid  out,  with  facilities  for  extensions. 
If  negotiations  cannot  be  closed  with  Caroline  Tacoby  and  others  for  the  taking 
over  by  the  borough  of  the  private  sewer,  then  the  petitioners  purpose  to  lay  an 
independent  main  in  Allegheny  Avenue. 

"Two  miles  below  Cheswick  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Allegheny  River  is  the 
borough  of  Oabmont  and  adjacent  thereto  is  Verona  borough,  both  of  which  are 
supplied  with  water  by  the  Suburban  Water  Supply  Company.  This  company's 
water  works  intake  is  at  a  point  in  the  river  near  the  easterly  borough  line  of 
Oakmont.  Some  complaint  has  been  made  by  the  citizens  of  the  district  of  the 
quality  of  the  water  and  the  Suburban  Water  Company  has  been  requested  by  the 
Commissioner  of  Health  to  prepare  plans  for  a  more  efficient  purification  of  the 
river  water  than  that  accomplished  by  the  present  intake  cribs  located  in  the 
bed  of  the  stream.     The  two  boroughs  of  the  district  have  also  been   required   to 


278 


prepare  plans  for  some  method  of  sewage  disposal  than  into  the  Allegheny  River, 
because  of  the  proximity  of  their  present  sewer  outlets  to  the  water  supply  intakes 
of  the  city  of  Pittsburgh  and  district. 

"Below  Cheswick,  on  the  north  bank  of  the  river,  at  the  hamlet  ol  Montrose,  in 
O'Hara  Township,  is  the  pumping  station  and  intake  of  the  Allegheny  City  water 
works  system.  Seven  miles  above  Cheswick  on  the  same  side  of  the  river  IS  the 
borough  of  Tarentum.  The  Commissioner  of  Health  lias  issued  a  decree  to  the 
authorities  of  Tarentum  and  also  to  the  borough  of  I'.raekenndge  immediately 
above,  and  to  the  village  of  Natrona  in  Harrison  Township,  to  prepare  plans  for 
some  other  method  of  disposal  of  sewage  than  into  the  river.  In  all  of  these  pbices 
the  problem  is  rendered  quite  difficult  because  of  the  topography  and  the  Eacl  that 
many  of  the  sewers  receive  storm  water  whose  elimination  must  be  effected  before 
the  erection  and  operation  of  purification  works  can  be  conducted  on  any  other 
than  a  prohibitive  basis  from  the  standpoint  of  cost.  Nevertheless,  it  is  the 
purpose  of  the  State  to  bring  about  at  as' early  a  date  as  practicable  the  discontin- 
uance of  all  sewage  disposal  into  the  Allegheny  River  or  its  tributaries,  and  con- 
sistent with  this  policy,  all  municipal  authorities  should  conform  their  sewer 
plans. 

"The  petitioners  for  Cheswick  borough  contemplate  using  the  proposed  sewer  for 
house  sewage  only.  The  assessed  valuation  of  the  borough  is  reported  to  be 
$520,000,  which  gives  a  borrowing  capacity  of  about  $36,000.  The  present  bonded 
indebtedness  is  $500,000.  The  cost  of  the  proposed  sewers  is  estimated  at  $5,000, 
so  it  is  seen  that  the  borough  will  have  on  this  basis  the  ability  to  borrow  $25,000, 
after  the  proposed  sewers  shall  have  been  built.  Undoubtedly  when  the  times  demand 
sewerage  for  all  of  the  municipal  territory,  some  other  point  for  a  sewage  dis- 
posal plant  will  be  secured  than  at  the  outlet  of  the  Allegheny  Avenue  sewer  pro- 
posed. The  natural  slope  of  the  ground  is  more  towards  the  mouth  of  Pillow 
Run  for  the  western  district  and  towards  the  mouth  of  Tawney  Hill  Run,  or 
Shoop  Run,  which  is  to  the  east  in  Springdale  borough. 

"If  the  borough  should  make  a  comprehensive  study  of  this  subject  and  be  able 
to  select  a  definite  site  for  the  ultimate  disposal  works  where  all  of  the  sewage 
of  the  borough  should  be  delivered  and  treated,  and  find  that  the  cost  of  conducting 
the  sewage  to  this  point  at  this  time  would  be  prohibitive,  then  the  erection  of 
a  temporary  sewage  purification  plant  at  the  foot  of  Allegheny  Avenue  would  appeal 
more  strongly  to  the  citizens  and  taxpayers  of  the  borough  as  a  practical  expedient 
and  the  economies  of  the  temporary  plant  would  be  thus  proven. 

"In  any  event,  because  of  the  close  proximity  of  Cheswick  to  the  intake  of  the 
Allegheny  City  Water  Works,  and  the  great  menace  to  public  health  which  would 
be  constituted  by  the  discharge  of  the  public  sewer  into  the  Allegheny  River  in 
Cheswick  it  does  not  folloAV  that  local  conditions  prescribe, — or  admitting  that  the 
present  method  of  sewage  disposal  by  cesspool  and  privy  is  a  menace  and  a  nuisance 
of  a  local  character — that  there  is  not  some  other  remedy  than  the  proposed  sewer 
for  this  condition  and  so  it  would  appear  that  the  interests  of  the  public  health 
would  demand  that  the  borough  of  Cheswick  should  prepare  plans  for  the  treatment 
of  the  sewage  from  the  proposed  sewer  outlet,  (if  it  persists  in  building  the  sewer) 
and  submit  the  same  to  the  Commissioner  of  Health  for  approval. 


The  borough  did  not  build  under  the  foregoing  permit.  The  bor- 
ough, however,  selected  a  site  for  a  sewerage  purification  plant  on 
the  river  at  the  mouth  of  Pillow's  Eun  in  the  extreme  down  stream 
end  of  Cheswick  and  submitted  plans  for  the  purification  of  the 
borough  sewage  here.  Pillow  Run  drains  two  thirds  of  the  area  of 
Cheswick.  However,  the  local  authorities  did  not  wish  to  build 
this  plant  at  once  but  asked  permission  to  discharge  sewage  tem- 
porarily into  the  Allegheny  River  at  the  foot  of  Allegheny  Avenue 
through  the  existing  fifteen  inch  sewer  owned  by  Caroline  Jacoby 
and  others.  In  a  decree  issued  August  25,  1908,  withholding  ap- 
proval the  Commissioner  of  Health  made  the  following  statements: 

"The  site  selected  for  the  disposal  works  is  about  the  lowest  point  in  the  borough. 
There  are  a  few  nouses  in  the  neighborhood,  one  within  about  200  feet  of  the  site. 
It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  there  is  more  or  less  odor  in  connection  with  any 
sewage  disposal  works,  and  that  it  is  desirable  to  locate  the  plant  as  far  away 
from  the  dwellings  as  possible  and  feasible.  Where  the  plant  is  located  near 
buildings,  greater  care  and  high  class  maintenance  is  necessary  to  obviate  a  nuisance. 
It  would  be  better  to  establish  a  pumping  station  at  this  point  and  to  raise  the 
sewage  to  some  remote  point. 


279 


"It  is  evident  that  the  borough  has  means  at  its  disposal  to  defray  the  cost 
of  the  preparation  of  complete  detail  plans  of  a  comprehensive  sewerage  system 
and  a  permanent  sewage  disposal  works.  Such  plans  have  not  been  submitted. 
The  plan  now  before  the  Department,  if  modified  as  herein  proposed,  might  answer 
for  temporary  works,  and  possibly  a  permanent  plant,  if  proximity  to  dwellings  be 
eliminated  from  consideration. 

"The  effort  in  the  design  lias  been  to  secure  sewerage  facilities  at  the  minimum 
cost.  While  the  site  for  treatment  works  may  be  ultimately  used,  yet  the  borough 
purposes  to  temporarily  utilize  an  existing  sewer.  There  is  no  knowing  how  much 
sewage  may  be  added  to  that  now  being  emptied  through  the  existing  pipe  into 
the  Allegheny  River,  and  it  is  clearly  in  the  interests  of  public  health  that  all  of  the 
sewage  should  be  treated.  Either  an  adequate  plant  must  be  installed  or  each 
individual' estate  must  care  for  its  own  sewage  independently  of  others.  The 
drinking  water  of  municipalities  below  must  not  be  contaminated. 

"It  is  possible  for  the  borough  during  the  early  years  of  the  existence  of  the  sewer 
system  and  disposal  works,  to  dispose  of  all  of  the  sewage  at  the  plant  without 
creating  a  nuisance  but  it  is  good  judgment  to  forecast  the  time  when  the  site 
for  the  plant  will  have  been  outgrown  and  some  other  permanent  location  for 
treatment  works,  remote  from  habitation,  must  be  adopted.  It  would  be  better 
were  the  borough  to  thoroughly  consider  this  subject  at  the  outset  and  erect  works 
.at  the  permanent  locality.  The  municipality  has  a  borrowing  capacity  sufficient 
to  defray  this  expense,  provided  a  majority  of  the  citizens  want  a  system  of  sewerage 
and  sewage  disposal  works." 

The  borough  modified  the  sewage  disposal  plans  in  conformity 
with  the  decree  and  on  October  20,  1908,  the  Commissioner  of  Health 
approved  the  same. 

The  borough  held  an  election  and  defeated  the  proposition  to  in- 
crease the  indebtedness  for  the  construction  of  the  sewer  system  and 
disposal  works.  The  people  in  the  westerly  part  of  Cheswick  had 
little  need  for  a  sewerage  system  but  the  people  in  the  eastern  part 
of  the  borough  could  not  well  get  along  without  sewers.  However, 
the  borough  council  went  on  and  built  the  sewers  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  borough  and  the  trunk  sewer  to  the  site  of  the  sewage 
disposal  plant  in  the  lower  end  of  the  town.  The  people  living  in 
this  vicinity  objected  vigorously  to  the  temporary  location  of  dis- 
posal works  here  which  resulted  in  the  adverse  vote  given  in  June 
1000.  Therefore,  the  borough  asked  permission  to  use  the  storm 
sewer  down  Allegheny  Avenue  to  the  river  as  an  outlet  into  which 
to  empty  the  sewage  from  the  new  sewers  built  in  the  eastern  sec- 
tion of  Cheswick.  The  building  of  the  new  sewers  has  exhausted  all 
available  funds.  If  a  permit  is  granted  it  will  enable  the  borough 
to  collect  half  the  cost  of  the  sewer  system  from  the  property  owners, 
so  on  April  1st,  1910,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  issued  a  permit  to 
the  borough  to  temporarily  discharge  the  sewage  into  the  Allegheny 
River  near  the  mouth  of  Pillow  Run.  This  was  not  satisfactory.  It 
required  the  changing  over  of  the  grades  of  some  of  the  new  sewers 
which  grades  were  established  directly  contrary  to  the  plan  ap- 
proved by  the  Commissioner  of  Health  and  on  July  14,  1910,  after 
sending  a  representative  to  interview  the  borough  authorities  and 
representative  taxpayers,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  issued  a 
permit  to  use  the  Allegheny  Avenue  sewer  this  being  considered  the 
most  practicable  way  in  view  of  the  compact  situation  to  tempor- 
arily solve  the  sewerage  problem,  but  it  was  stipulated  that  on  or 


280 


before  July  1st,  1012,  Cheswick  .should  either  alone  or  in  conjunction 
with  Springdale,  submit  to  the  Commissioner  of  Health  for  approval 
plans  for  permanent  sewage  disposal  works.  On  -July  31st,  1012,  the 
Commissioner  of  Health  extended  the  time  in  which  Cheswick  and 
Springdale  boroughs  are  to  consider  and  prepare  plans  for  joint 
sewage  disposal  works. 

Oakmont  borough,  Allegheny  County,  population  3,400,  lies  on 
the  east  bank  of  the  Allegheny  River  about  twelve  miles  above  the 
confluence  of  this  stream  with  the  Monongahela  River.  It  is  largely 
a  residential  town  and  the  home  of  many  persons  doing  business  in 
Pittsburgh.  Its  industries  comprise  the  Verona  Tool  Works  em- 
ploying about  150  men,  located  on  Plum  Creek,  the  plant  of  the  Wil- 
liam B.  Scaife  &  Sons  Company,  structural  iron  manufacturers, 
with  upwards  of  350  employees,  and  the  works  of  the  Crescent  Forg- 
ing Company  which  employs  about  60  hands.  The  two  last  named 
plants  are  located  on  the  banks  of  the  river.  The  Suburban  Water 
Company  of  Allegheny  County,  supplies  the  town.  The  water  is  de- 
rived from  filter  cribs  buried  in  the  Allegheny  River  just  above  the 
borough,  whence  it  is  pumped  direct  to  consumers  in  Oakmont  and 
Verona,  the  adjoining  borough  to  the  south.  The  surplus  water 
goes  to  an  equalizing  and  storage  reservoir  on  the  hill  back  of  Verona 
in  Unity  Township.  From  this  reservoir  the  water  is  supplied  to 
consumers  along  Plum  Creek  in  Unity  Township. 

This  water  company  desiring  to  extend  its  water  works  system, 
requested  approval  of  the  existing  system  and  a  permit  to  make  ex- 
tensions. On  February  8th,  1910,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  is- 
sued a  decree  and  in  it  the  following  statements  were  made: 

"During  the  fall  of  1905,  the  water  company  was  compelled  to  enlarge  its  plant 
to  meet  the  rapid  growth  in  population  in  the  two  boroughs  and  the  two  townships, 
which  it  did  by  laying  a  new  crib  in  the  river  and  installing  a  new  pumping  engine. 
It  also  extended  water  mains  through  out  the  streets.  In  the  district  supplied  by  this 
company  there  has  been  a  large  amount  of  typhoid  fever.  For  the  first  six  months 
of  1907,  the  typhoid  cases  in  Verona  were  reported  to  number  twenty  and  in 
Oakmont  twenty-nine.  For  1906,  there  were  reported  eighty-eight  cases  in  Oakmont 
and  eight  cases  in  Verona.  It  is  known  that  physicians  neglected  to  render 
morbidity  reports  to  the  local  health  authorities.  Analyses  of  samples  of  water 
collected  from  the  piping  system  at  various  times  have  shown  the  presence  of 
intestinal  organisms  and,  therefore,  the  public  has  been  warned  by  the  borough 
officials  of  Oakmont  to  boil  the  water.  While  the  public  water  supply  was  availed 
of  quite  generally,  some  drinking  water  is  obtained  from  private  sources  in  the 
borough.  Along  the  road  in  Wildwood  Creek  ravine  there  are  a  number  of  houses 
using  wells.  These  wells  are  near  the  road  and  the  foot  of  the  slope,  on  which  slope 
are  numerous  privy  vaults  sunk  in  gravelly  soil  and  in  close  proximity  to  the 
wells.  In  the  central  part  of  the  borough,  between  First  and  Second  "Avenue, 
there  are  several  houses  not  yet  connected  with  the  sewer  system,  privies  and  wells 
being  located  near  each  other  on  these  properties. 

"At  the  Bollinger  Andrews  Company  plant  (Verona),  there  is  a  large  spring  on 
the  hillside  which  is  its  source  of  supply.  The  spring  itself  is  walled  up  and  closed 
over,  a  pipe  leading  from  it  to  a  half  barrel  nearby  where  residents  in  the  vicinitv 
on  the  highland  above  are  said  to  come  and  fill  water  pitchers.  From  this  barrel 
the  water  is  piped  to  a  tank  and  thence  to  the  works.  Unless  sewage  is  properly 
disposed  of  at  the  properties  on  the  hill  above  the  spring,  there  is  a  possibility  of 
surface  contamination  and  sub-surface  pollution.  The  General  Steel  Castings 
Company  obtains  water  from  a  small  run  fed  from  springs  in  the  hillside  just 
back  from  the  plant.    This  water  is  used  in  the  boilers  in  preference  to  the  cor- 


281 


rosive  waters  of  the  borough's  supply.  The  employees  drink  the  spring  water  and 
it  is  also  furnished  to  their  tenanl  bouses,  accommodating  twelve  families.  The 
watershed    is   unpopulated,    excepting   one   farm    house   and    it   should    be   an   easy 

matter   to   protect    this  supply. 

"Owing  to  the  source  of  the  public  water  supply  of  Oakmont  and  verona,  it 
may  be  expected  that  typhoid  fever  will  continue  to  prevail,  at  least  until  two 
things  shall  have  hem  accomplished,  namely,  the  filtration  of  tin-  said  supply  and 
second,    the  diminution  of  tin-  pollution  of  the  Allegheny    River  by   sewage  above 

the  Suburban  Water  Company's  intake.  The  latter  work  is  being  gradually  accom- 
plished    by    the.    State     Department    of    Health    and     is    essential     because    the    most 

advanced  processes  of  water  purification  do  not  afford  absolute  insurance  against 
infection  of  the  drinking  water  in  case  of  accident  or  careless  operation  of  the 
filter  when  the  source  from  which  the  raw  water  is  obtained  contains  pathogenic 
poison. 

"Reliance  upon  a  filter  Crib  sunk  in  the  bed  of  the  river  is  likely  to  prove  dts- 
astrous  to  those  drinking  the  water  drawn  from  such  a  crib  if  the  practice-  be 
continued  throughout  a  long  period  of  time.  Even  where  apparatus  for  water 
purification    is    built    to   admit    of   all    possible    regulation    and    manipulation    constant 

care  must  be  exercised  to  secure  a  high  and  safe  degree  of  efficiency.     Therefore, 

it  should  be  readily  apparent   that  an  apparatus  like  a   filter  crib  which  is  not   subject 

to  control  is  totally  unsuited  to  afford  assurance  to  the  public  health  to  the  extent 

that  water  consumers  may  drink  this  water  without  risk  of  contracting  disease 
at  any  time.  In  the  case  of  Wilkinsburg  vs.  the  Pennsylvania  Water  Company, 
it  was  proven  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  court  that  the  filter  crib  of  said  company 
was  not  a  sufficient  safeguard  to  public  health,  although  the  filter  crib  was  con- 
structed according  to  the  best  plan  and  kept  in  repair  as  much  as  possible,  and 
although  much  of  the  time  the  water  drawn  from  this  filter  crib  and  supplied  to 
the  public-  was  pure  water. 

"The  Suburban  Water  Company  might  not  be  able  to  repair  a  break  or  leak  in 
its  filter  cribs  for  several  months,  owing  to  the  high  stage  of  the  river,  and 
meantime  the  public  might  be  supplied  with  impure  water.  The  Suburban  Water 
Company,  under  its  charter,  is  required  to  furnish  a  pure  and  wholesome  water 
to  the  public.  The  company  should  forthwith  provide  apparatus  for  the  treatment 
.if  the  filter  crib  water  with  a  germicide  at  such  times  as  daily  observations  show 
the  water  to  be  at  all  turbid,  or  frequent  bacteriological  examinations  may  show 
the  water  to  contain  sewrage  organisms.  And  the  company  should  proceed  forthwith 
to  prepare  plans  and  estimates  of  cost  for  the  installation  of  a  modern  water  puri- 
fication plant,  and  these  should  be  submitted  to  the  State  Department  of  Health 
for  approval.  The  Department  cannot  approve  the  filter  cribs.  The  new  one  was 
built  without  approval  of  the  Department  and  without  application  for  approval. 
The  company's  explanations  have  been  received,  but  they  are  not  satisfactory. 
It  is  not  good  policy  to  wait  until  an  epidemic  prevails  in  a  district  by  reason 
of  distribution  of  impure  water  therein,  in  order  to  establish  the  necessity  for 
the  building  of  a  modern  filter  plant  and  the  mere  fact  that  analyses  of  the  water 
now  produced  by  the  filter  cribs  show  it  to  be  free  from  sewage  pollution  dees  not 
remove  the  prejudice  to  public  health  which  is  ever  imminent  so  long  as  the  filter 
cribs  are  the  only  means  of  purifying  the  river  water.  By  careful  daily  observa- 
tions of  the  water  dravm  from  the  cribs  and  the  use  of  chemicals  to  disinfect  the 
water  whenever  it  is  turbid,  even  to  the  slightest  degree,  the  water  may  be 
rendered  safe  for  public  use  at  all  times.  But  the  intent  of  the  State  in  creating 
the  Suburban  Water  Company  was  that  this  private  corporation  should  have 
before  it  first  and  foremost  the  obligation  to  furnish  a  pure  and  wholesome  water 
and  the  company  cannot  fulfill  this  obligation  under  the  circumstances,  until  it 
has  installed  and  put  in  use  an  apparatus  of  the  most  approved  type  for  the  puri- 
fication of  water." 

On  July  15,  1910,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  approved  plans  for 
an  emergency  hypochlorite  treatment  of  the  water  supplied  by  the 
Suburban  Water  Company  to  the  public  within  its  charter  territory. 
On  April  1st,  1911,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  approved  plans  for 
a  proposed  water  filtration  plant.  In  this  permit  the  Commissioner 
made  the  following  statements: 

"According  to  the  1910  census  the  population  of  Verona  is  2,849,  and  that  of 
Oakmont  3,430.  a  total  in  the  two  boroughs  of  6,285;  the  majority  of  whom  are 
patrons  of  the  Suburban  Water  Company.  The  average  daily  consumption  of 
water  in  the  district  supplied  by  said  company  is  1 ,2.">0,0(i0  gallons.  The  filter 
plant  as  proposed  will  accordingly  be  ample  in  size  to  take  care  of  this  consumption, 
as  three  of  the  filters  at  their  rated  capacity  will  produce  1,500,000  gallons  of 
water  per  24  hours,  thus  leaving  at  all  times  one  filter  unit  in  reserve.  Furthermore, 
the  proposed  rate  of  nitration  does  not  exceed  that  found  practicable  in  plants 
of  similar  nature.  No  provision  has  been  made  for  by-passing  the  reservoir.  All 
of  the  filtered  water  will  pass  into  this  basin,   which  has  a  capacity  of  1,600,000 

282 


gallons,  and  thence  to  the  distributing  system.  It  is  presumed  by  the  Department 
of  Health  that  this  is  the  method  that  will  be  followed  at  all  times,  except  in 
case  of  a  breakdown  at  the  filter  plant  which  might  have  the  effect  of  completely 
putting  this  plant  out  of  service.  In  such  a  contingency,  it  would  no  doubt,  be 
necessary  to  resort  to  the  present  method  of  water  supply,  namely,  dosing  the 
water  pumped  through  the  cribs  with  a  suitable  germicide,  as  is  now  customary, 
before  furnishing  it  to  the  public.  This  practice  should  be  resorted  to  only  as 
a  final  expedient  and  if  at  any  time  it  becomes  necessary,  tin:  Commissioner  of 
Health  should  be  notified  and  the  public  should  be  warned  to  thoroughly  boil  all 
water  before  drinking  it." 

Oakmpnt  has  extensive  sewerage  with  four  outlets,  one  into  Plum 
Creek  and  three  into  the  river.  They  serve  ten  miles  of  sanitary 
sewers  and  over  one  mile  of  combined  sewers.  About  3,000  persons 
reside  in  the  dwellings  connected  to  the  public  sewer  system.  There 
are  few  cesspools  or  privies  in  use  and  none  where  sewers  exist.  On 
August  14,  1907,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  issued  a  permit  to 
Oakmont  for  the  construction  of  certain  sewer  extensions  and  re- 
quiring the  preparation  of  plans  for  the  collection  and  purification 
of  the  sewage.  In  this  decree  certain  statements  were  made  as  fol- 
lows: 

"The  incorporated  territory  is  very  favorably  located  on  a  long  incline  sloping 
westward  to  the  river  and  southerly  to  Plum  Creek,  which  creek  forms  the  southern 
boundary  of  the  borough  separating  it  from  Verona.  The  town  stretches  along 
the  river  for  one  and  three-quarters  miles.  The  shores  bowing  outward  form  a 
crescent,  so  that  the  currents  are  reported  to  be  greater  along  the  opposite  or 
west  bank  of  the  river  passing  by  Oakmont.  The  northern  boundary  is  a  small  stream 
known  as  Palling  Springs  Run,  this  part  of  the  borough  back  from  the  river  being 
well  wooded  and  unoccupied.  The  easterly  boundary  is  Plum  Township  and  the 
land  in  the  township  contiguous  to  the  borough  continues  to  ascend  gradually  to 
the  table  lands  above.  The  natural  drainage  facilities  in  proximity  to  Pittsburgh 
have  attracted  many  well-to-do  men  whose  avocations  call  them  to  Pittsburgh  during 
business  hours,  but  whose  means  enable  them  to  command  first  class  suburban 
residences  and  a  majority  of  the  dwellings  in  Oakmont  have  been  built  and  are 
occupied  by  this  class  of  citizens.  On  the  medium  sized  lots  in  the  town  houses 
of  a  moderate  cost  have  been  erected.  Even  the  homes  of  the  less  resourceful 
employed  in  the  manufactories  present  a  neat  appearance,  with  few  exceptions. 
The  streets  are  generally  well  paved,  and  broad  side-walks  have  been  permanently 
constructed,  shade  trees  are  numerous  and  all  told  the  borough  presents  an  at- 
tractiveness and  tone  which  vouchsafes  to  it  a  continued  growth  as  a  residential 
suburb  of  Pittsburgh  and  reflects  credit  to  those  in  local  authority.  The  railroad 
is  back  from  the  river  over  one-quarter  of  a  mile  through  the  central  part  of  the 
borough ;  but  it  approximates  the  river  bank  at  the  north  end  and  above  follows 
along  said  bank.  The  only  land  in  the  town  which  is  ever  reached  by  high  freshets 
is  a  small  tract  between  the  railroad  and  the  river  in  the  southeastern  part,  prin- 
cipally in  the  vicinity  of  Plum  Creek.     No  permanent  use  is  made  of  this  land. 

"Surface  drainage  from  the  hills  is  maintained  principally  in  the  street  gutters 
or  the  natural  valleys  of  which  there  are  several  coming  toward  the  river,  but  the 
water  is  conducted  largely,  if  not  wholly,  undergi'ound  to  the  river  from  the  railroad 
or  near  it  by  means  of  sewers. 

"The  local  Board  of  Health  has  requested  the  assisted  of  the  State  Department 
of  Health  in  solving  the  vexatious  problem  of  how  to  stamp  out  the  typhoid 
disease  from  the  community.  The  surest  way  would  be  to  discontinue  the  use  of  all 
wells  and  springs  in  the  borough  and  to  abandon  the  Allegheny  River  as  a  source  of 
supply  because  it  contains  pathogenic  poison.  A  great  deal  of  infection  exists  in 
the  Tarentum  district,  where  typhoid  fever  is  practically  endemic.  This  place  is 
8.5  miles  above  Oakmont's  water  works  intake,  so  that  the  sewage  organisms 
discharged  into  the  river  at  Tarentum  through  that  borough's  sewers,  within 
two  or  three  hours  may  pass  over  and  possibly  through  Oakmont's  filter  crib  and  be 
introduced  into  the  homes  of  the  citizens  of  Oakmont.  There  is  practically  no 
way  provided  to  regulate  the  filter  crib.  If  it  gets  out  of  order  or  be  imperfectly 
purifying  the  river  water,  as  is  known  to  have  been  the  case  on  various  occasions, 
there  is  no  way  of  manipulation  provided  to  increase  the  efficiency.  Only  by  the 
most  modern  and  improved  filtration  apparatus  provided  with  means  of  regulation 
and  control,  can  badly  sewage  polluted  waters,  such  as  the  Allegheny  River,  be 
rendered  constantly  safe  and  wholesome  for  domestic  uses.  And  even  then  there 
is  danger  that  in  case  of  breakdown  or  accident  the  poisonous  source  may  be 
temporarily  or  accidently  supplied  to  the  people.  Hence  as  a  public  precaution 
it  is  demanded  that  sewage  should  cease  to  be  discharged  into  the  Allegheny  River 
above  those  points  from  which  the  water  is  drawn  as  a  source  of  public  supply. 

283 


"The  borough  asks  permission  to  extend  the  sewer  system  according  to  the  com- 
prehensive plan  adopted  prior  to  the  law  of  L905,  under  which  the  existing  sewers 
have  been  built. 

"The  ease  of  the  petitioners  is  one  in  which  the  point  to  be  decided  relates  not 
SO  much  to  the  necessity  of  the  discontinuance  of  the  discharge  of  the  borough's 
sewage  into  the  river,  which  necessity  is  paramount  and  must  be  brought  about  at 
the  earliest  practicable  moment,  as  to  whether  the  interests  of  the  public  health 
will  be  subserved  by  permitting  the  petty  lateral  extensions  immediately  contem- 
plated. The  few  houses  to  be  connected  with  the  extension  will  not  contribute 
a  measurable  increase  to  the  menace  of  the  downstream  water  supplies.  The  bor- 
ough's sewers  arc  now  about  one  mile  and  a  half  above  the  Allegheny  City  water 
works  intake.  .'>.4  miles  above  the  pumping  station  of  the  Pennsylvania  Water 
Company  and  about  live  miles  above  the  city  of  Pittsburgh's  intake.  If  permission 
be  denied  the  borough,  a  material  hardship  will  be  imposed  upon  private  individuals 
and  upon  the  borough  in  general  anil  this  cannot  aid  in  hastening  the  adoption 
of  sewage  purification  works  for  the  entire  sewage  of  the  borough.  Were  the 
State  to  demand  the  preparation  of  plans  and  the  construction  of  a  municipal 
Bewage  plant  at  an  early  date,  and  at  the  same  time  permit  the  proposed  sewers 
to  be  laid,  possibly  the  good  accomplished  by  thus  aiding  the  establishment  of 
modern  sanitary  facilities  might  entirely  overbalance  any  possible  harm  which  (he 
small  amount  of  added  sewage  to  the  borough  system  might  do.  But  it  is  not  neces- 
sary that  general  sewerage  extensions  should  be  made  in  the  borough  and  the 
sewage  therefrom  discharged  into  the  Allegheny  River. 

"Since  it  is  not  economical,  but  it  is  in  fact  prohibitive  in  cost,  for  a  town  of 
Oakmont's  size  to  attempt  to  treat  mingled  sewage  and  storm  water,  this  fact 
dictates  that  there  should  be  a  separation  of  house  drainage  and  storm  water.  Sep- 
arate conduits  should  be  provided.  Since  but  a  small  portion  of  the  existing 
sewers  in  the  borough  are  combined,  the  expense  of  this  separation  would  be  moder- 
ate. It  is  reported  that  a  storm  drain  is  to  be  laid  in  Railroad  Avenue.  If  this 
be  so  it  will  be  prudent  for  the  local  authorities  to  consider  the  advisability  of  making 
this  a  part  of  the  purely  surface  drainage  system  of  the  borough,  and  to  exclude 
all  house  drainage  of  a  sewage  character  from  storm  water  structures. 

"The  site  of  the  disposal  works  needs  to  be  carefully  considered.  Preferably  a 
secluded  spot  should  be  selected  in  a  locality  not  likely  to  be  in  demand  for  de- 
velopment purposes.  There  is  a  possibility  that  the  intercepting  system  and  dis- 
posal problem  might  be  considered  jointly  by  the  borpughs  of  Oakmont  and  Verona, 
to  their  mutual  advantage. 

"The  borough  authorities  are  informed  that  the  Department  is  notifying  the 
owners  of  private  sewers  now  discharging  into  the  river  within  the  borough  limits, 
and  the  owners  of  privies  located  on  the  banks  of  the  stream,  that  the  discharge  of 
all  sewage  into  the  waters  of  the  State  must  cease.  Where  possible  or  practicable, 
the  sewage  from  every  property  should  be  contributed  to  the  public  sewer  system. 
The  local  board  of  health  should  be  commended  for  its  activity  and  efficient  work. 
The  injunction  to  boil  water  should  be  reiterated  from  time  to  time.  The  Department 
of  Health  will  co-operate  with  the  water  company  in  the  effort  to  render  the  public 
supply  pure  and  wholesome.  All  wells  and  springs  in  the  borough  should  be  ordered 
abandoned  if  tests  to  be  made  frequently  prove  the  waters  thereof  to  be  polluted." 

The  borough  of  Verona,  population  of  2,800,  is  a  manufacturing 
community  adjoining  the  borough  of  Oakmont,  being  separated  from 
it  by  Plum  Creek.  The  industries  include  a  plant  of  the  General 
Steel  Castings  Company,  employing  about  350  hands,  the  works  of 
the  Pittsburgh  Pole  and  Forge  Company,  the  structural  steel  plant 
of  the  Bollinger  Andrews  Company,  and  the  Anderson  Planing  Mill. 
The  manufactural  wastes  from  these  industrial  plants  are  not  partic- 
ularly deleterious  to  the  potability  of  the  river  water.  The  water 
supply  has  been  described  under  Oakmont.  and  also  the  prevalence 
of  typhoid  fever.  Verona  is  quite  thoroughly  sewered  on  the  separ- 
ate plan.  The  sanitary  sewer  system  has  a  twenty -four  inch  out- 
let serving  about  six  miles  of  sewers.  There  are  no  cesspools  in 
use  and  very  few  privies,  compulsory  connection  with  the  sewers 
being  enforced.  The  storm  water  system  has  two  outlets,  one  four 
feet  in  diameter  and  the  other  twenty  inches  in  diameter.     In  addi- 


2S4 


tion  to  the  public  system,  there  are  various  private  sewers  discharg- 
ing into  the  river  and  into  Plum  Creek.  Plum  Creek  receives  drain- 
age from  the  coal  mine  which  gives  a  characteristic  color  to  the 
stream  bed.  On  August  14,  1007,  the  Commissioner-  of  Eealth  issued 
a  permit  for  certain  pjublic  sewer  extensions  designed  to  relieve, 
nuisances  in  two  portions  of  the  town.  In  this  decree  the  following 
statements  were  made: 

"It  appears  that  the  borough  of  Verona  is  a  manufacturing  community  of  about 
2,700  people,  located  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Allegheny  River  nearly  opposite  but 
slightly  above  the  Allegheny  City  water  works  intake,  and  1.75  miles  above  the 
water  works  intake  of  the  Pennsylvania  Water  Company,  3.25  miles  above  the  city 
of  Pittsburgh  water  works  intake  and  eleven  miles  above  the  confluence  of  the 
Allegheny  and  Monongahela  Rivers. 

"While  the  public  supply  is  availed  of  quite  generally,  some  drinking  water  is 
obtained  from  private  sources  in  the  borough.  Along  the  road  in  Wildwood  Creek 
ravine  there  are  a  number  of  houses  using  wells.  These  wells  are  near  the  road 
and  the  foot  of  the  slope,  on  which  slope  are  numerous  privy  vaults  sunk  in 
gravelly  soil  and  in  close  proximity  to  the  wells.  The  borough  purposes  to  extend 
a  ten  inch  sewer  up  Wildwood  Avenue  in  the  ravine  by  the  houses  now  located 
there,  and  then  up  Church  Street  and  alleys,  and  in  Third  Avenue  and  alley  in  rear 
to  South  Avenue,  comprising  in  all  about  2,400  feet  of  eight  inch  sewer  and  1,300 
feet  of  ten  inch  sewer.  Also  an  eight  inch  sewer  extension  in  Jones  Street  to  admit 
of  the  abatement  of  nuisances  caused  by  privies  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Pittsburgh 
Pole  and  Forge  Company  works.  This  extension  will  amount  to  about  600  feet  in 
length. 

"The  injunctions  of  the  Oakmont  Board  of  Health  to  boil  the  water,  and  it  may 
be  that  the  Verona  Board  of  Health  has  issued  similar  warnings,  should  be  heeded. 
The  discharge  into  the  Allegheny  River  of  sewage,  especially  immediately  above 
Oakmont,  menaces  the  lives  of  the  public  in  the  Verona  district  and  must  cease. 
In  turn  those  municipalities  and  the  public  relying  for  drinking  water  upon  the 
Allegheny  River  and  living  below  Verona  must  be  protected,  and  in  considering  the 
question  broadly  the  State  authorities  cannot  consistently  permit  Verona  or  Oak- 
mont to  defile  the  Allegheny  River  while  requiring  up-stream  municipalities  to  dis- 
continue such  defilement.  The  poison  emitted  from  Verona  sewers  into  the  river 
within  3.25  miles  of  and  above  the  water  works  systems  supplying  half  a  million 
people  may  be  introduced  into  the  pipes  of  any  of  these  systems  and  be  drunk  and 
start  upon  its  work  of  destroying  human  life  within  less  than  an  hour  from  the  time 
the  poison  leaves  the  body  of  the  individual  using  the  Verona  sewerage  system.    • 

"The  assessed  valuation  of  Verona  is  reported  to  be  $1,783,245,  which  if  true, 
leaves  a  borrowing  capacity  of  about  $52,000  which  is  a  sum  amply  sufficient  to  more 
than  provide  under  all  ordinary  conditions  for  the  installation  of  a  municipal 
sewage  plant  of  the  size  demanded  in  the  .interests  of  public  health  at  Verona. 
While  the  proposed  sewer  extension  will  do  away  with  the  two  worst  nuisances  in  the 
borough  namely,  those  existing  along  Wildwood  Avenue  and  those  in  the  vicinity  of 
Jones  Street,  (provided  the  borough  authorities  compel  the  abandonment  of  all 
privies  and  the  connection  to  the  public  sewer  system  in  these  localities)  and  the 
public  health  seems  to  demand  these  improvements,  and  the  amount  of  sewage 
to  be  contributed  by  the  said  proposed  extensions  will  not  measurably  increase  the 
present  sewage  pollution  of  the  river  in  Verona,  because  most  of  it  goes  to  the 
river  sooner  or  later  now,  yet  in  order  to  accomplish  the  best  results,  the  sewer 
system  should  be  extended  to  embrace  all  sewers  in  the  borough  and  every  property 
should  be  compelled  to  connect  in  order  that  all  sewage,  whether  from  dwellings  or 
industrial  plants,  should  be  conveyed  by  the  public  sewer  system  eventually  to  the 
sewage  purification  plant.  Therefore,  in  anticipation  of'  the  treatment'  of  the 
sewage,  all  roof  and  storm  water  should  be  excluded  from  private  connections  to 
the  public  system. 

"Since  one  of  the  main  outlets  of  the  Oakmont  borough  system  discharges  into 
Plum  Creek,  and  in  the  study  of  the  most  important  question  of  the  selection  of  a 
secluded  site  for  a  sewage  purification  plant  for  the  treatment  of  Oakmont's  sewage, 
it  might  be  found  very  desirable  for  Oakmont  and  also  for  Verona  to  unite  in  a  com- 
bined or  joint  intercepting  system  and  disposal  works,  the  attention  of  the  local 
authorities  of  both  municipalities  might  well  be  called  to  the  possibility." 

The  borough  did  not  build  the  sewers  and  hence  Verona  did  not 
prepare  the  comprehensive  sewerage  plans  and  submit  them  for  ap- 
proval. On  July  24th,  1008,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  extended 
the  time  to  January  1st,  1900  and  approved  of  the  extension  of  cer- 

285 
19 


tain  sewers  by  the  borough  in  the  meantime.  The  borough's  funds 
became  exhausted  and  for  various  reasons  no  construction  under 
the  decree  was  accomplished  until  1!>11  when  bids  were  advertised 
and  received  for  the  completion  <>r  the  building  of  the  sowers  men- 
tioned in  the  last  decree  and  for  the  laying  of  other  sewers.  Failure 
on  the  part  of  the  borough  to  prepare  plans  for  the  treatment  of  its 
sewage  and  for  the  submission  of  these  plans  to  the  Commissioner 
of  Health  for  approval  was  considered  by  the  Department  to  con- 
stitute an  annnllnient  of  the  sewerage  permits  and,  therefore,  upon 
receipt  of  the  notice  that  Verona  borough  proposed  to  extend  its 
sewer  system  in  1911,  the  matter  was  called  to  the  attention  of  the 
Attorney  General.  It  was  ascertained  that  Verona  borough  desired 
to  obtain  a  decree  similar  to  the  original  one  of  1908  and  on  August 
30,  1911,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  granted  a  permit  subject  to 
the  following  conditions  and  stipulations: 

"FIRST:  That  all  storm  water  shall  bo  excluded  from  the  sewers  herein  spe- 
cifically approved  and  that  DO  other  sewer  shall  be  built  or  extension  to  the  existing 
sewers'  be  laid  unless  plans  therefor  shall  have  been  approved  by  the  Commissioner 
of  Health. 

"SECOND:  This  permit  is  issued  under  the  express  stipulation  that  on  or  before 
January  1st,  1012,  the  borough  shall  prepare  a  plan  for  the. collection  of  all  of  the 
sewageof  the  borough  and  for  its  conveyance  to  and  treatment  in  sewage  purifica- 
tion works  and  shall  prepare  a  plan  and  report  on  such  sewage  disposal  works 
and  sewerage  improvement  and  shall  submit  the  same  to  the  Commissioner  of  Health 
for  approval.  This  work  would  best  be  done  in  co-operation  with  the  borough  of 
Oakmont.  When  plans  therefor  shall  have  been  approved,  modified  <>r  amended 
the  Commissioner  of  Health,  the  Governor  and  Attorney  General  will  lix  a  time 
when  such,  sewage  disposal  works  shall  be  built  and  put  in  operation. 

"THIRD:  If  at  any  time  in  the  opinion  of  the  Commissioner  of  Health  the 
sewerage  system  or  any  part  thereof  has  become  a  nuisance  or  prejudicial  to 
public  health,  then  the  borough  authorities  shall  adopt  such  remedial  measures 
as  the  Commissioner  of  Health  shall  advise  or  approve. 

"FOURTH:  This  permit  to  discharge  sewage  into  the  waters  of  the  State 
shall  cease  on  the  first  day  of  January,  1912,  but  if  on  such  date  the  conditions  and 
stipulations  of  this  permit  shall  have  been  complied  with,  then  the  Commissioner  of 
Health  will  extend  the  time  in  which  the  sewage  of  the  borough  may  continue  to  be 
discharged  into  the  Allegheny  River,  but  it  is  expressly  stipulated  that  the  interests 
of  the  public  health  demand  that  the  sewage  of  Oakmont  and  Verona  shall  be 
treated  in  proper  works  at  the  earliest  practical  date,  consistent  with  the  execution 
of  the  State  policy  relative  to  the  treatment  of  the  sewages  of  all  the  municipalities 
in  the  Allegheny  Valley  in  proximity  to  Pittsburgh. 

"FIFTH:  No  pathogenic  material  from  any  laboratory  shall  be  permitted  to  dis- 
charge into  the  sewer  system.  The  proper  authorities  shall  cause  these  wastes  to 
be  destroyed  in  the  premises. 

"SIXTH:  Detail  plans  and  profiles  of  the  sewers  as  built  shall  be  prepared  by  the 
borough  and  filed  in  the  office  of  the  Commissioner  of  Health  on  or  before  the 
conclusion  of  the  current  season. 

"The  borough  authorities  are  requested  to  compel  the  owners  of  all  estates  abutting 
a  public  sewer,  whereon  nuisance  or  menace  exists,  or  from  which  a  private  sewer 
discharges  into  any  river,  creek  or  natural  water  course,  to  connect  such  proper- 
ties with  the  sewer  system  and  to  discontinue  the  discharge  into  State  waters.  The 
local  authorities  shall  promptly  notify  the  State  Department  of  Health  of  the 
names  of  such  owners  from  whose  properties  sewage  is  discharged   into  the  waters 

of  the   State.     Upon   failure  of   the   local    authorities   to   ( pel    the  discontinuance 

of  such  discharge,  the  State  Department  of  Health  will  take  the  matter  in  charge." 


286 


During  1912,  Verona  borough  rex>orted  x>rogress  OH  plans  for 
sewage  treatment  works.  Negotiations  were  being  had  for  the  ac- 
quirement of  land  upon  which  to  erect  a  plant.  Oakmont  declined 
to  join  with  Verona.  The  situation  at  Tarentnin  was  being  watched. 
If  the  Department  is  successful  in  the  courts  respecting  the  Taren- 
tum  sewage  situation  there,  it  is  anticipated  that  no  great  difficul- 
ties will  be  encountered  in  consummating  the  State  policies  at  Oak- 
mont and  Verona. 

At  Claremont,  or  Warner  station,  on  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad, 
O'Hara  Township,  Allegheny  Comity,  there  are  two  public  institu- 
tions located  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Allegheny  River,  namely  the 
Allegheny  City  Home  and  the  County  Workhouse,  representing  in 
all  a  population  of  about  1,500  persons.  The  Ross  pumping  station 
at  Aspinwall  of  the  Pittsburgh  water  works  system  is  a  short  dis- 
tance only  below  this  point  and  also  the  intake  cribs  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Water  Company  at  Nadine.  The  prevalence  of  typhoid  in 
Pittsburgh  and  vicinity  led  the  Commissioner  of  Health  to  require 
these  public  institutions  to  purify  their  sewage.  The  Allegheny  City 
Home,  in  accordance  with  decrees  issued  November  2nd,  1907,  and 
June  25th,  1908,  and  the  Allegheny  County  Workhouse  in  accordance 
with  a  decree  issued  on  March  8th,  1907,  have  constructed  indepen- 
dent sewage  disposal  works  and  are  now  treating  their  sewage  by 
means  of  septic  tanks  and  sprinkling  filters. 

At  Nadine,  a  station  on  the  Allegheny  Valley  Railroad  located  on 
the  south  bank  of  the  Allegheny  River,  just  above  the  city  of 
Pittsburgh  line  and  about  a  thousand  feet  above  the  intake  of  the 
city  of  Pittsburgh's  water  works  system,  the  Pennsylvania  Water 
Company  operates  a  series  of  filter  cribs  in  the  bed  of  the  river  from 
Which  water  is  drawn  and  supplied  to  a  population  of  about  88.000 
persons  in  Pittsburgh  and  the  adjoining  boroughs  in  Turtle  Creek 
valley,  the  average  daily  consumption  being  in  the  neighborhood  of 
ten  million  gallons.  The  territory  includes  the  boroughs  of  Wilkins- 
burg,  Edgewood,  Swissvale,  Rankin,  North  Braddock,  East  Pitts- 
burgh, Turtle  Creek,  Wilmerding,  Pitcairn,  Trafford  City;  parts  of 
the  townships  of  Wilkins,  Braddock,  North  Versailles,  and  Patton; 
and  the  Thirteenth  Ward  of  the  city  of  Pittsburgh. 

At  the  Nadine  pumping  station  the  floor  of  the  engine  house  is 
twenty-seven  feet  above  the  level  of  the  Aspinwall  dam.  two  miles 
below  Nadine.  This  dam  forms  a  pool  in  the  Allegheny  River  which 
extends  several  miles  above  the  Pennsylvania  Water  Company's 
plant.  This  government  dam  was  completed  in  the  latter  part  of 
1908,  prior  to  which  the  low  water  in  the  river  opposite  Nadine 
station  was  about  forty  feet  below  the  engine  house  floor  and  the 
highest  flood  level  reached  was  about  ten  feet  below  this  floor.  There 
are  three  intake  cribs  located  opposite  and  a  little  up-stream  from 


287 


the  pump  house  along  the  north  shore  of  the  river  and  about  300 
feet  distant  therefrom.  Crib  No.  1  is  a  timber  structure,  300  feet 
long  by  32  feel  wide  and  4  feet  deep.  Excavation  was  made  in  the 
rived  bed  and  the  crib  was  floated  into  position  and  then  sunk 
to  its  bed  in  the  excavation.  Heavy  stones  were  put  on  top  and 
around  the  sides  and  over  all  was  deposited  the  sand  and  gravel  of 
the  original  excavation,  making  a  till  of  about  live  feet  over  the  top 
of  the  crib  to  the  level  of  the  river  bed.  Cribs  Nos.  2  and  3  are  lo- 
cated in  line  with  and  immediately  above  Crib  No.  1  and  are  of  simi- 
lar construction.  Pipes  extend  from  these  cribs  to  the  pumping 
station.  The  capacity  of  the  three  cribs  depends  upion  their  condi- 
tion and  the  stage  of  the  river.  Some  of  the  flow  of  the  water  in  the 
crib  conies  from  the  ground  beneath.  Two  facts  prove  this.  The 
alkalinity  between  the  crib  water  and  the  river  water  is  often  in  the 
ratio  of  four  to  one.  When  the  pumps  are  stopped  the  water  stands 
in  the  inlet  chamber  at  a  higher  elevation  than  the  river  water,  or 
did  so  prior  to  the  creation  of  the  river  pool.  Over  fifty  per  cent,  of 
the  water  formerly  secured  came  from  the  ground  during  ordinary 
conditions.  This  supply,  however,  is  limited  and  an  emergency  raw 
water  intake  is  sometimes  used.  The  sand  over  the  crib  is  cleaned  two 
or  three  times  a  year,  between  May  and  December.  During  the  five 
winter  and  spring  months  no  cleaning  operations  are  undertaken. 

The  water  is  pumped  to  Reservoir  No.  1,  which  is  back  one  mile 
from  the  river  and  on  the  highest  hill  in  the  vicinity.  The  eleva- 
tion of  the  water  in  this  basin  is  563  feet.  It  is  used  for  storage  of 
filtered  water.  The  filters  were  built  during  1909  and  since  July 
1910,  the  entire  supply  has  been  tillered.  The  purification  plant  is 
located  adjacent  to  this  reservoir.  Four  miles  distant  is  Reservoir 
No.  2,  there  being  a  forty^two  inch  main  connecting  these  basins. 
Reservoir  No.  1  is  an  earth  embankment  structure,  concrete-lined, 
and  having  a  capacity  when  full  of  9,150,000  gallons.  The  depth  of 
water  is  twenty-one  feet.  Reservoir  No.  2  is  sixty-eight  feet  lower 
and  when  full  to  a  depth  of  twenty  feet  contains  11,500,000  gallons. 
It  is  of  similar  construction  to  No.  1.  Reservoir  No.  3,  holding 
5,000,000  gallons,  is  at  Port  Perry,  near  East  Pittsburgh,  and  Reser- 
voir No.  4  is  up  the  valley  of  Turtle  Creek,  near  Pitcairn.  The  dis- 
tance traversed  by  the  mains  of  the  water  company  from  the  river 
to  Pitcairn  borough  is  approximately  eleven  miles  and  the  distribu- 
ting system  aggregates  abou\  140  miles  of  pipe. 

During  the  last  half  of  the  year  1905  and  the  spring  of  1906,  there 
was  an  epidemic  of  typhoid  fever  in  the  water  district.  Prior  to  and 
subsequent  to  this  time  the  territory  was  free  from  the  disease  in 


288 


epidemic  form  and  freer  from  typhoid  cases  than  the  adjacent 
territory  supplied  by  the  city  of  Pittsburgh  system.  The  following 
table  shows  the  number  of  cases  in  the  water  company's  district: 

TABLE  LXIX. 

Typhoid  Fever  Cases  in  the  Pennsylvania  Water  Company  District,    \'M)~>     l!j]2, 

inclusive. 


Wilkinsburg,     

Edgewood 

Swissvale,     

Rankin,     

N.    Braddock 

B.     Pittsburgh 

Turtle    Creek 

Wilmerding,     

Pitcairn,    

Trafford   City 

13th    Ward,    Pittsburgh, 


1905. 

1906. 

1907. 

1908. 

1909. 

1910. 

l'Jll. 

157 
12 
1 

15 

4 

e 

5 
140 

377 
29 

140 
62 

123 

15 
36 
40 
10 
286 

70 
5 

41 
10 
66 
74 
17 

7 
12 

6 
54 

50 
6 
9 

5 
25 
21 

8 
16 

6 

3 
24 

71 
2 

10 
3 

15 
6 
4 

12 
5 
3 

34 

28 
0 
13 
13 
21 
9 
5 
0 
7 
2 
21 

19 
3 
2 
6 

35 
4 
6 
2 

45 
5 
7 

340 

1,118 

362 

179 

165 

119 

134 

Although  in  1902  there  had  been  a  case  of  discoloration  of  the 
water  at  the  Nadine  pumping  station,  and  the  company  employed  a 
diver  who  was  engaged  for  many  weeks  in  examining  the  intake 
pipes  and  the  crib  to  discover  the  leak  or  cause  of  turbidity,  not  until 
the  spring  of  1906,  was  the  real  cause  discovered  and  remedied,  and 
this  was  after  the  epidemic.  During  the  intervening  years  the  open 
joint  in  the  forty-two  inch  intake  pipe  and  the  holes  in  the  wooden 
plug  at  the  gate  on  tlio  twenty-four  inch  pipe  at  the  old  crib  had  been 
delivering  water,  probably  into  the  forty-two  inch  pipe  and  con- 
stantly into  the  twenty-four  inch  pipe.  Nevertheless,  the  analyses 
of  the  water  did  not  reveal  the  pollution  as  much  as  the  color  in  the 
water;  and  besides  there  was  a  comparatively  low  typhoid  rate 
among  the  water  consumers.  During  1904,  when  the  ice  gorge  car- 
ried away  the  top  of  the  manhole  and  muddy  river  water  got  into 
the  water  works  system  in  large  quantities,  an  epidemic  did  not 
follow.  The  outbreak  of  typhoid  began  in  July  1906  and  gradually 
increased  until  November  when  the  rate  increased  rapidly  reaching 
its  maximum  in  April.  Sedimentation  is  an  effective  barrier  to  the 
spread  of  typhoid  infection.  The  typhoid  rates  did  not  drop  off 
until  after  reservoir  No.  1  was  used  as  a  sedimentation  basin.  Dur- 
ing the  epidemic  and  also  prior  to  that  time  the  filter  crib  water 
was  pumped  directly  into  the  distributing  system.  Eeservoir  No.  1 
was  used  as  an  equalizer,  that  is  it  received  the  surplus  water  only. 
During  some  hours  of  the  day  no  water  may  have  flowed  in  but  to 
the  contrary  water  may  have  been  drawn  out  of  the  reservoir;  but  at 
night  when  the  consumption  fell  off  in  the  towns,  the  surplus  pump- 


289 


age  would  till  up  tlic  reservoir.  The  forty-two  inch  connection  was 
not  made  to  the  reservoir  until  the  new  pumping  engine  was  in- 
stalled. This  was  in  the  summer  of  l(-»<»r».  in  November  of  that  year 
the  improvements  were  completed  and  since  then  reservoir  No.  1 
was  used  as  a  sedimentation  basin,  no  water  being  by-passed  around 
ii  to  the  consumers.  The  State  Department  of  Health  took  up  with 
the  Pennsylvania  Water  Company  the  question  of  treating  the  water 
with  a  germicide.  The  Departmenl  also  advised  the  installation  of 
water  filters.  The  borough  of  Wilkinsburg  entered  complaint  in  the 
court  of  Common  Pleas  of  Allegheny  County  against  the  water  com- 
pany and  this  action  broke  off  the  negotiations  between  the  State 
Department  of  Health  and  the  water  company.  The  court  found  that 
the  water  furnished  by  the  company  was  not  pure  and  wholesome 
and  on  September  28th3  1007  the  company  was  ordered  to  secure  and 
provide  either  by  change  of  its  source  of  supply,  by  proper  filtration, 
or  by  some  other  proper  method,  a  sufficient  supply  of  water  so  free 
from  sewage  and  organic  matter,  turbidity  and  odor  as  to  make  said 
water  reasonably  pure  and  wholesome.  The  water  company  pro- 
ceeded to  prepare  plans  for  a  mechanical  filtration  plant  to  be  lo- 
cated on  the  north  side  of  reservoir  No.  1  and  to  have  a  daily  capac- 
ity of  10,000,000  gallons.  In  a  permit  approving  these  plans  issued 
by  the  Commissioner  of  Health  on  May  5th,  1909  the  following  state- 
ments were  made: 


"It  appears  that  the  water  company  has  charter  rights  within  the  territory 
mentioned  in  its  application. 

"There  can  be  no  doubt  as  to  the  efficiency  of  the  proposed  nitration  plant  from 
the  basis  of  the  design.  A  much  less  elaborate  layout  might  suffice  to  render 
the  filter  crib  water  safe  from  pathogenic  pollution.  In  anticipation  of  possible 
deterioration  in  the  efficiency  of  the  preliminary  treatment  of  the  Allegheny  River 
water  at  the  filter  cribs  and  the  possible  accidental  or  emergency  introduction  of  the 
dangerous  raw  river  water  into  the  water  works  system,  the  company  purposes  to 
provide  an  adequate  remedy  against  all  suspicion  at  any  time  of  the  purity  of  the 
water  furnished   to  its  consumers. 

"From  the  standpoint  of  public  health  it  does  not  appear  that  the  purification  plant 
proposed  differs  in  kind  and  cost  from  that  installed  in  a  number  of  places  in 
Pennsylvania  and  elsewhere.  And  as  soon  as  it  may  become  necessary  to  introduce 
raw  river  water  to  the  purification  plant,  nothing  less  than  the  arrangement  now 
proposed  would  warrant  approval  by  the  State  Department  of  Health.  The 
feature  peculiar  to  this  water  works  system  is  the  preliminary  treatment  at  the 
filter  crib,  which  preliminary  treatment  at  the  present  time  as  evidenced  by  the 
bacteriologie.nl  analyses  hereinbefore  given,  is  so  very  efficacious  as  to  raise  a  doubt 
relative  to  the  expediency  of  a  large  expenditure  of  money  to  further  safeguard  the 
public  health.  The  answer  is  found  in  the  fact  that  no  apparatus  existing  for  the 
purpose  of  removing  deadly  poisons  from  water  should  be  beyond  ready  regulation 
and  control. 

"The  art  of  water  purification  has  been  developed  to  the  extent  hereinbefore  set 
forth  in  detail  whereby  various  appliances  and  arrangements  are  provided  throughout 
the  several  parts  of  the  plant  to  admit  of  ready  regulation  and  control.  The  mere 
fart  of  the  inaccessibility  of  the  filter  cribs  argues  against  dependence  upon  them. 
Accident  to  the  cribs  or  the  piping  or  the  intake  chamber  or  any  of  the  apparatus 
submerged  or  liable  to  be  reached  by  the  raw  river  water  might  admit  sewage 
pollution  to  rhe  water  works  system  and  endanger  public  health. 

"The  gradual  discontinuance  of  the  discharge  of  sewage  into  the  Allegheny  River 
is  resulting  from  the  administration  of  the  law  to  preserve  the  purity  of  the 
waters  of  the  State  for  the  protection  of  public  health.  P.ut  the  river  when  re- 
lieved of  its  grosser  pollutions  can  never  be  a  safe  source  of  raw  water  supply. 
The  water  must  be  adequately  treated  by  the  corporations  which  furnish  it  for 
domestic  use. 


290 


"Furthermore,  the  proposed  filter  plant  when  built  may  break  down.  The  Butler 
typhoid  fever  epidemic  and  the  epidemic  at  Royorsford  and  Spring  City  were  due 
to  the  shutdown  for  repairs  and  the  overtaxing  of  the  filters  whereby  the  poisons  in 
the  source  of  supply  were  introduced  into  the  homes  of  the  consumers.  The 
Pennsylvania  Water  Company  has  provision  made  in  the  plans  hereinbefore 
described,  for  the  by-passing  of  the  raw  river  water  around  the  filters  and  the  storage 
reservoir  to  the  district.  An  emergency  might  arise  at  any  moment  when  this 
might  have  to  be  done,  or  the  water  district  would  be  without  a  supply,  hence  the 
necessity  of  preserving  the  purity  of  the  Allegheny  River  water  as  far  as  this 
may  be  practical.  Both  diminution  in  the  pollution  of  the  source  and  effective 
purification  of  the  water  by  the  user  is  demanded.  The  water  company  should 
continue  the  use  of  the  filter  cribs  as  a  double  safeguard,  especially  during  the 
early  years  of  the  campaign  of  the  Commonwealth  against  sewage  pollution  of 
drinking  water. 

"The  Port  Perry  Station  on  the  Monongahela  River  should  be  immediately  aban- 
doned and  disconnected  after  the  filter  plant  and  the  raw  water  emergency  inlet 
at  the  intake  chamber  on  the  shores  of  the  Allegheny  River  have  been  built.  The 
latter  emergency  shoidd  not  be  built  prior  to  the  erection  of  the  filter  plant. 

"The  by-passing  of  unfiltered  water  into  the  reservoir  or  directly  to  the  con- 
sumers should  not  be  done  except  in  a  great  emergency.  In  this  event  the 
State  and  local  health  authorities  should  be  notified  immediately. 

"Filtered  water  sometimes  deteriorates  in  quality  when  it  is  stored  in  open  reser- 
voirs. Organisms,  non-pathogenic,  may  find  favorable  conditions  for  development 
and  discolor  and  impart  a  disagreeable  taste  and  odor  to  the  water.  It  is  known 
that  ample  circulation  retards  such  development  and  may  prevent  it.  The  treatment 
of  the  water  so  affected  is  quite  effective  through  the  use  of  chemicals  which  pre- 
cipitate and  destroy  the  organisms.  It  is  best  to  have  facilities  in  a  storage  reservoir 
for  the  drawing  off  of  the  water  to  be  consumed  at  or  near  the  surface  at  a  predeter- 
mined depth  controlled  by  will.  The  water  company  should  give  this  feature  some 
consideration  and  adopt  and  put  these  suggestions  into  practice  at  the  earliest 
practicable  moment.  Furthermore,  it  would  appear  that  facilities  may  be  needed 
in  reservoir  No.   1  to  promote  a  good  circulation  of  the  water." 


(c)  Typhoid  Fever.  Tn  Table  LXX  are  given  data  relative  to 
typhoid  fever  cases  occurring  in  the  boroughs  along  the  Allegheny 
River  in  the  section  between  the  Kiskiminetas  River  and  the  Pitts- 
burgh water  works  intake  at  Brilliant  or  Aspinwall.  Included  in 
this  table  .are  typhoid  fever  cases  in  the  city  of  Pittsburgh  and  in 
the  Pennsylvania  Water   Company  district: 


TABLE  LXX. 

Typhoid  Fever  Cases  in  Towns  along  the  Lower  Allegheny  River,   1906 — 1912, 

inclusive. 


Town. 


Freeport 

Worthington,     

Braekenridge,      

Oakmont,     

Tarentum 

Verona ,     

Cheswick,    

Springdale,     

Arnold,    

New    Kensington 

Parnassus 

Natrona 

Allegheny    City    Home,     

Pittsburgh   City   Farm 

Pennsylvania  Water  Co.  District, 
Pittsburgh,      


1906. 

1907. 

1908. 

1909. 

1910. 

1911. 

i 

29 

250 

15 

11 

26 

15  I 

0 

1 

0 

4 

3 

0 

125 

50 

0 

7 

13 

24 

153 

86 

21 

12 

11 

S 

153 

S6 

9 

15 

2S 

73 

S 

2S 

6 

6 

8 

3 

0 

0 

0 

2 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

9 

9 

21 

5 

4 

10 

6 

44 

30 

27 

15 

34 

30 

5 

5 

1 

1 

12 

7 

110 

71 

0 

0 

0 

0 

10 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

20 

9 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1,118 

362 

179 

165 

119 

134  1 

6,519 

5.27S 

1,714 

749 

S21 

639  ! 

7 
1 
12 
23 
47 
2 
0 
2 

ii 

8 
9 
0 
9 

94 
328 


291 


The  125  cases  in  Brackenridge  in  the  1000  column  really  repre- 
sents some  cases  that  occurred  in  1905  during  the  epidemic  of  that 
winter.     The  250  cases  at  Freeport   for  1007  are  estimated. 

It  will  be  noted  that  typhoid  fever  has  been  more  extensive  in  the 
lower  portion  of  the  Allegheny  River  basin.  It  is  here  that  more 
persons  live  and  more  persons  use  the  water  from  the  river  and  this 
water  is  the  drainage  of  the  entire  basin. 


202 


PAKT  V 


POLLUTION    OF   THE    ALLEGHENY    RIVER,    EXTENT    AND 
EFFECTS.       CONCLUSIONS. 


Section  1.  -^-Population. 

In  Table  LXXI  are  given  the  names  of  the  principal  towns  along  the 
Allegheny  River,  the  population  and  distance  in  miles  above  the 
river's  mouth  beginning  at  the  source  and  coming  down  stream: 


TABLE  LXXI. 

Principal  Cities  and  Towns  along  the  Allegheny  River. 


Name. 


Coudersport 

Port   Allegany,    

Eldred 

Olean,    N.   Y 

Allegany,    N.    Y., 
Salamanca,    N.    Y., 

Warren,     

Tidioute,      

Oil    City 

Franklin 

Emlenton,     

Parker,     

East    Brady,     

Kittanning,    

Ford   City,    

Freeport 

Tarentum,     

New  Kensington,   ... 

Springdale,     

Oakmont 

Verona,     

Aspinwall 

Sharpsburg 

Etna 

Millvale 

Pittsburgh 


Distance 

Above 

Mouth  in 

Population 

Miles. 

1910. 

301 

3,100 

285 

1,980 

269 

1,240 

254 

14,750 

251 

1.290 

233 

5,800 

193 

11,0S0 

170 

1,300 

134 

15,700 

127 

9,80") 

92 

1,110 

85 

1,240 

71 

1,500 

46 

4.300 

43 

4,900 

30 

2,250 

22 

7.4O0 

IS 

7,700 

17 

2,000 

12 

3,440 

11 

2,850 

7 

2,590 

6 

8,150 

5^ 

5, $30 

4 

7,  $60 

0 

533,900 

In  Table  LXXII  the  urban  and  rural  populations  are  given  for 
the  Allegheny  River  basin.  They  were  determined  for  the  year  1909 
by  the  sub-divisions  according  to  drainage  areas.  The  upper  part 
of  the  basin  is  taken  first  and  the  populations  are  given  both  local 
and  cumulative  as  progress  is  made  down  stream. 


293 


It  will  appear  from  this  table  thai  excluding  Pittsburgh  and  the 
territory  supplied  by  the  Pennsylvania  Water  Company,  that  there 
are  in  round  numbers  a  million  persons  living  on  the  basin  and  about 
equally  divided  between  those  residing  in  the  towns  and  those  re- 
siding in  the  rural  district. 

TABLE  LXXII. 
Urban  and  Rural  Populations,  1909,  in  the  Allegheny  River  Basin  by  Sections. 


Territory. 


River    above     Potato    Creek,     .. 

Totato  Creek 

River   to   Oswayo   Creek,    

Oswayo   Creek,    

River    to   Tunungawant    Creek, 
Tnnnngawant    Creek 

River     to     State     Line 

River    below    State    Line 

Conewango   Creek 

River  to   Brokenstraw  Creek,    ... 

Brokenstraw    Creek 

River    to    Tionesta    Creek,     

Tionesta    Creek 

River    to    Oil    L'reek,     

Oil    Creek 

River    to    French    Creek 

French   Creek 

River    to    Clarion     River 

Clarion    River 

River   to   Red    Bank    Creek,    .... 

Red    Bank   Creek 

River  to  Mahoning   Creek,    

Mahoning    Creek,     

River    to    Crooked    Creek,     

Crooked    Creek 

River    to    Kiskiminetas    River, 

Kiskiminetas    River 

River  below   Kiskiminetas   River 

Total 


Urban. 

Rur 

ll. 

Tut 

Local. 

Cuinul. 

Local, 

Cumnl. 

Local. 

S.390 

7.6S0 

16,070 
7,520 

2,000 

10,890 

5,520 

13,200 

1,800 

12,190 

3,600 

16,800 

3,600 

15,790 

1,640 

21.  140 

8,240 

22,020 

37, 810 

14,400 

35,840 

36,  120 

is, -I'll 

56,030 

6,190 

12,030 

24,  iln 

9.S30 

65,860 

840 

17,87 

11,300 

77,160 

9, 440 

59,510 

20,740 

44,870 

122,030 

2S.240 

84,750 

73,110 

11,000 

i:;  •..!.:;■> 

i,i;:m 

89,440 

12,690 

9,780 

112,810 

9,170 

98,610 

18,!  '* 

2,150 

111,960 

4 .  850 

in::,  n.ii 

7,000 

4,200 

149,160 

7.460 

110,920 

11,660 

2,100 

151, 260 

3.510 

114.430 

5.610 

12,800 

164,060 

9,100 

123,530 

:i,:u' 

15,500 

179,560 

2,  180 

126,010 

17,980 

29,060 

208,620 

43,760 

169.770 

72,820 

16,390 

225,010 

16,760 

186.5  0 

33,1  iO 

25,790 

250.800 

41,320 

227,850 

67,110 

4,240 

265,010 

6,340 

234,190 

10.5  0 

29,110 

284,150 

32, 650 

266,840 

61,760 

2S4.150 
311,350 

1 .  550 
17,500 

268,391 
285,960 

1,550 

14,770 

27,200 

14,980 

326,330 

:  t , : . : )  o 

295,950 

24,970 

3,260 

329,590 

9,110 

305,060 

12,37  I 

800 

330, 390 

2,940 

308,000 

3,740 

158,570 

|8X,!M) 

80,700 

388,700 

239,270 

3S.900 
520,910 

520.910 

21,250 

409,950 

60,200 

409,950 

937,860 

2S.990 
37,230 
73,650 
98,060 
ll  i,980 
136,670 
209, 780 
222.  170 
211,120 
2  8,420 
2CO.0S0 
265,690 

1:06,570 
378,390 
411,540 
171  ,650 
489,230 
550,990 
. :,:  540 
597.310 
622,281 
631,60  I 
■ ::  8! ' 
877,60) 
937,860 


Section  2. — Pollution  Summary. 

Of  course  along  the  streams  that  receive  the  sewage  from  the  town 
sewers  the  added  pollution  that  comes  from  railroad  operations  may 
not  be  material;  but  on  upland  watersheds  such  pollutions  may  be 
an  important  menace.  As  stated  elsewhere  the  Allegheny  River 
watershed  is  traversed  by  railroads  aggregating  over  2,500  miles  in 
length.  The  tracks  are  laid  in  close  proximity  to  the  river  or  its 
tributaries.  There  are  approximately  7,000  passengers  and  employees 
constantly  travelling  on  the  trains.  There  are  also  about  400  men 
continuously  at  work  along  the  tracks.  The  fact  that  patients  re- 
covering from  typhoid  often  travel  on  trains  as  soon  as  they  are 
able  and  the  fact  that  a  good  many  of  these  pjatients  are  probable 
"carriers"  of  the  infection  taken  in  connection  with  the  present 
method  of  disposal  of  sewage  from  passenger  coaches  makes  it  neces- 
sary to  consider  this  class  of  pollution. 


294 


We  have  seen  that  in  addition  to  sewage  i>ollution,  pollution  of 
the  State  waters  in  the  basin  occurs  at  tanneries,  chemical  plants, 
coal  mines,  oil  wells,  and  refineries.  Some  of  the  effects  produced 
by  these  polluting  agencies  are  here  briefly  noted. 

At  the  head  waters  of  the  river,  above  Potato  Creek,  frequent  com- 
plaints  are  made  that  the  fish  have  been  exterminated  and  that 
cattle  are  made  sick  on  account  of  the  discharges  of  wastes  from 
tanneries  and  chemical  plants  into  natural  water  courses.  These 
pollutions  produce  a  visible  effect  on  the  water  at  Port  Allegany, 
and  the  creosote  taste  and  odor  nuisance  are  a  live  topic  at  Warren, 
where  the  public  supply  is  made  less  desirable  on  this  account. 

Oswayo  Creek  watershed  contains  no  sewerage  systems,  tanneries, 
nor  chemical  plants  or  coal  mines,  and  the  water  is  constantly  pture 
and  clear. 

French  Creek  is  polluted  by  a  considerable  population  and  a 
tannery.  But  it  has  a  sucession  of  pools  and  shoals  affording  sedi- 
mentation and  aeration,  so  that  the  water  appears  desirable  for  a 
supply  near  Franklin  city. 

The  West  Branch  of  the  Clarion  Biver  is  a  clear  stream  above  the 
tanneries  and  chemical  plants;  but  below  them  the  waters  are  foul, 
discolored,  and  objectionable.  Elk  Creek  which  enters  the  Clarion 
River  at  Ridgway  discharges  a  black  water  due  to  pollutions  from 
tannery  wastes  and  chemical  plants  and  coal  mines.  Little  Toby 
Creek,  a  tributary,  is  stained  yellow  with  mine  drainage.  Fish  in 
the  Clarion  River  have  been  destroyed  in  great  numbers  by  these 
agencies. 

Red  Bank  Creek  is  badly  stained  with  mine  wastes  and  Mahoning 
Creek  also  has  the  characteristics  of  water  that  receives  large  quan- 
tities of  mine  drainage. 

In  the  Kiskiminetas  River  sub-basin  several  of  the  streams  are  dis- 
colored by  wastes  from  mines  and  cokeries.  The  effect  is  clearly 
visible  in  the  lower  reaches  of  the  Kiskiininetas  river. 

The  harm  that  oil  wastes  do  will  be  explained  under  the  Pitts- 
burgh water  supply. 


295 


TABLE  LXXIII. 
Summary  of  Polluting  Factors  on  the  Allegheny   Basin,  by  Sections. 


Polluting 

Population. 


Allegheny    River 

Potato    Creek 

Allegheny    River 

Oswayo  Creek 

Allegheny    River,    

Tnnungawanl    Creek 

Allegheny    River  ami   Klnzua  Creek 

Conewango   Creek,    

Allegheny    River 

Broke n st raw   Creek,    

Allegheny   River 

Tionesta    Creek 

Allegheny  River 

Oil    Creek 

Allegheny    River,     

French    Creek 

Allegheny    River 

Clarion    Kiver 

Allegheny   River 

Red   Bank  Creek 

Allegheny    River 

Mahoning    Creek,     

Allegheny    River 

Crooked  Creek 

Allegheny     River 

Kiskiminetas    River 

Allegheny  River  to  Brilliant 

Totals 


:>,7t;o 

:•  D 

790 

1,620 

16,800 

2.  160 

11,800 

33,230 

S,  170 

1, 690 

775 

3,070 

1,930 

8,105 

10,375 

24,295 

12,320 

26,835 

4,000 

27.6I") 

230 

12.910 

13,">30 

3,945 

1,240 

144,415 


421,270 


Tanning 
PlantB. 


Chemical 
Plants, 


Coal 

Ml  IK'S. 


58 
29 
7/ 

■1 
74 
2.) 
20 

!) 
382 
39 


Iii  Table  LXXIII  the  sewage  polluting  population  on  the  streams 
is  given  in  figures  as  ascertained  at  the  time  the  sanitary  inspectors 
of  the  Department  first  visited  the  water  sheds  in  the  prosecution 
of  their  regular  duties.  A  great  many  abatements  have  been  effected 
since  then,  more  especially  on  the  watersheds  that  yield  supplies 
used  for  domestic  purposes.  In  the  proximity  to  towns  whose  sew- 
age goes  into  the  river  or  tributaries,  the  population  may  continue  to 
contribute  some  pollution.  The  State  Department  of  Health's 
judgment  has  been  exercised  in  these  cases.  In  agricultural  pur- 
suits the  fertilizing  of  the  soil  contributes  a  polluting  factor  when 
the  rains  scour  some  of  the  manure  to  streams.  The  surface  drain- 
age from  streets  in  towns  is  an  unpreventable  pollution.  The  freshet 
waters  from  the  basin  bring  down  the  washings  from  the  entire  area 
and  at  such  times  the  water  in  the  Allegheny  River  at  Pittsburgh 
contains  high  counts  of  bacteria.  This  will  always  be  true  on  an 
inhabited  watershed. 


Section  S. — Mine  Drainage  ax  a  Purifying  Agency. 

A  false  sense  of  security  is  possessed  by  the  people  generally  in  the 
belief  that  the  presence  of  mine  drainage  in  a  stream  insures  steri- 
lity and  renders  the  water  safe  for  drinking  purposes  without  filtra- 


296 


DIAGRAM    A 


tion.  There  is  no  doubt  that  the  water  discharged  from  coal  mines 
has  a  germicidal  effect  upon  the  stream  receiving  it;  but  the  extent 
of  the  action  is  uncertain.  The  amount  of  drainage  pumped  from 
a  given  mine,  its  acid  content,  the  total  drainage  from  all  the  mines 
above  the  point  in  question,  the  volume  of  the  stream  and  its  char- 
acter, and  the  extent  of  other  pollutions,  as  will  be  shown  below, 
are  all  variable  quantities  that  affect  the  potability  and  desirability 
of  stream  water  as  a  source  of  municipal  supply. 

Mine  drainage,  coking  operations,  and  iron  works  waste  are  us- 
ually the  sources  of  acid  pollution.  Generally  the  amount  of  the 
acid  is  rather  constant  when  the  works  are  in. operation  and  so,  when 
the  flow  of  the  stream  is  constant  and  the  amount  of  acid  entering 
the  stream  varies  but  little,  there  is  considerable  reduction  in  bac- 
terial content.  The  flow  of  any  stream,  however,  is  irregular,  and 
hence  even  if  the  discharge  of  acid  into  the  stream  were  constant, 
there  would  be  a  great  variation  in  the  acidity  of  the  stream  and 
hence  in  the  bacterial  content  of  the  water,  depending  largely  upon 
the  amount  of  flow  of  the  stream.  It  is  known  that  high  water 
lowers  the  acidity  and  is  accompanied  by  an  increase  in  bacteria, 
while  a  low  water  stage  is  accompanied  by  an  increase  in  acidity  and 
a  consequent  reduction  in  bacteria. 

The  city  of  McKeesport  has  a  water  treatment  plant  located  on 
the  Youghiogheny  River.  Here  daily  chemical  and  bacteriological 
analyses  are  made  of  the  raw  and  filtered  water.  From  the  data 
obtained  here  Diagram  A  has  been  prepared  and  is  presented  to  show 
the  relation  of  the  acidity  and  the  bacterial  content  of  the  river 
water  at  McKeesport,  and  the  height  of  the  water  in  the  Youghio- 
gheny River  at  Confluence  sixty  miles  up  stream.  The  water  height 
at  Confluence  is  taken  for  convenience  as  representing  the  stage  of 
the  river  and  as  typical  of  the  relative  yield  of  the  watershed  at 
McKeesport.  The  diagram  covers  a  period  of  one  year  between  Feb- 
ruary, 1909,  and  February,  1910.  It  will  be  noted  that  the  acidity 
of  the  river  at  times  is  so  high  as  to  render  the  raw  water  nearly 
sterile.  The  height  of  the  water  flow  line  changes  almost  every  day. 
The  acid  line  and  the  bacterial  line  are  more  constant.  This  may  be 
due  partly  to  the  fact  that  the  gauge  readings  at  Confluence  were 
taken  in  a  free  flowing  stream  while  the  acid  and  bacterial  samples 
were  taken  from  the  river  at  the  water  works  intake  where  the 
flow  is  affected  by  a  dam  and  pool,  the  large  body  of  water  tending 
to  keep  the  acid  and  bacterial  quantities  more  uniform.  Further- 
more it  will  be  noted  that  the  acid  and  bacterial  lines  vary  and  that 
this  variation  follows  the  variations  in  the  water  flow  line.  A  rise 
in  the  flow  of  the  river  causes  a  reduction  in  the  acidity.  With  the 
rise  in  the  riverflow,  comes  an  increase  in  bacteria.  The  diagram 
shows  clearly  how  the  acid  varies  and  that  it  cannot  be  depended 


297 


upon  always  to  reduce  the  bacteria.  For  instance,  as  the  diagram 
shows,  when  the  acid  reaches  1(10  parts  in  a  million  the  bacterial 
content  is  almost  zero,  but  a  short  time  before,  when  the  river  rose, 
the  water  became  alkaline  and  the  bacterial  count  went  up  sud- 
denly to  nearly  100,000.  A  change  in  weather  conditions  may  quickly 
annul  the  germicidal  effect  of  the  acid  and  at  such  times  it  is  dan- 
gerous l<>  use  the  stream  as  a  source  of  public  water  supply  without 
filtration.  Nevertheless,  it  is  undoubtedly  true  that  had  it  not  been 
tor  the  discharge  of  drainage  from  coal  mines  into  the  waters  of 
the  Allegheny  basin,  typhoid  lever  would  have  been  more  prevalent 
than  the  records  indicate  for  the  basin.  The  Commissioner  of 
Health  has  announced  it  to  be  in  the  interest  of  public  health  that 
sewage  should  first  be  taken  from  the  streams  before  any  general  at- 
tempt is  made  to  bring  about  some  regulation  and  control  of  the 
discharge  of  mine  drainage  into  State  waters  to  render  them  more 
potable  for  public  uses. 


Section  //. — Typhoid  Charts. 

Statistics  of  typhoid  morbidity  are  in  some  instances  incomplete 
and  frequently  unreliable  owing  to  failure  on  the  part  of  physicians 
to  report  cases.  At  many  places  where  a  special  house  to  house  can- 
vas has  been  made  by  the  Department  it  has  been  disclosed  that  a 
larger  number  of  cases  of  typhoid  fever  had  occurred  than  had  been 
reported  to  the  Bureau  of  Vital  Statistics.  The  accompanying  chart 
showing  annual  typhoid  morbidity  rates  for  each  100,000  of  popu- 
lation by  counties,  all  or  partly  in  the  Allegheny  River  basin,  is  based 
chiefly  on  the  records  of  the  Bureau  of  Vital  Statistics  of. the  De- 
partment for  the  years  1906-1911  inclusive.  It  illustrates  in  a  gen- 
eral way  how  the  occurrence  of  typhoid  is  low  in  the  rural  districts 
especially  near  the  head  waters  and  that  the  disease  becomes  more 
prevalent  as  progress  is  made  down  stream  into  the  more  populated 
counties  and  the  urban  districts.  Contours  of  equal  rates  at  in- 
tervals of  I'd  cases  for  each  100,000  population  are  shown  and  by 
these  it  appears  at  once  that  the  high  typhoid  fever  rates  exist  in 
the  lower  portion  of  the  basin  along  the  river  where  the  people  have 
to  rely  upon  the  sewage  polluted  waters  of  the  Allegheny  for  do- 
mestic use.  It  also  shows  that  at  Erie  and  vicinity  and  at  Johns- 
town and  vicinity,  two  local  centres  of  large  population  the  rates 
are  much  higher  than  in  the  contiguous  counties.  Elk  County  is 
high  because  of  typhoid  fever  at  Johnsonburg  and  an  epidemic  at 
Ridgway.  The  chart  is  practically  a  summary  graphically  illustrated 


2J)S 


~s 


Pennsylvania 
Bates  per    100,000 

rOC   ENTIfJE     STATE 


Year 

Deaths 

Cases 

1906 

54.8 

313 

1907 

48.6 

266 

I908 

32.4 

2.1  I 

1909 

22.7 

164 

191  O 

24.6 

185 

191  1 

20. 6 

152 

191  2 

1  8.4 

West  Virginia 


Maryland 


Chart  No.5 

showing 

nnualTyphoid  Morbidity  Rates 

pele  100,000    Population 

by  Counties  in  the  Allegheny  River.  Basin 

Pennsylvania 

From  State  Department  of  Health  Records 

1906  TO    1911    INCLUSIVE 


DtACRAH    B 

URBAN     AND     RURAL    TYPHCHD 

ON  THE  ALLEGHENY  BASIN 

(Cumulative) 


of  the  various  typhoid  fever  tables  before  given   supplemented  by 
the  typhoid  records  for  the  rural  districts. 

Diagram  B  has  been  prepared  to  illustrate  the  relation  between 
population,  sewage  pollution,  the  use  of  raw  river  water,  and  the 
occurrence  of  typhoid  fever  in  the  Allegheny  River  basin.  Distances 
along  the  river  from  Ihe  source  to  the  mouth,  or  Brilliant  al  I'ilts- 
burgh,  are  shown  by  the  horizontal  scale.  The  approximate  num- 
ber of  hours  required  for  water  to  flow  from  the  source  to  the  mouth 
of  the  river  or  to  intermediate  points  is  also  shown  by  a  horizontal 
scale.  The  vertical  scales  show  population  and  typhoid.  The  dia- 
gram includes  both  urban  and  rural  records  of  the  disease  on  the 
entire  watershed  above  any  given  point;  that  is,  the  average  annual 
cases  of  typhoid  for  any  given  area.  It  will  be  noted  that  at  the 
source  there  is  no  typhoid  fever,  since  there  is  no  population  while 
at  Brilliant  there  is  a  population  of  950,000  and  1,850  cases  of  ty- 
phoid fever  per  annum.  It  takes  123  hours  for  the  water  to  flow 
from  the  source,  the  distance  being  300  miles.  The  estimated  popu- 
lation is  based  on  census  reports  modified  up  to  January  1st,  1909. 
The  sewage  polluting  population  is  largely  based  on  inspections  made 
by  officers  of  the  Department.  For  urban  typhoid  the  years  1906, 
1907  and  1908  were  taken  and  also  for  rural  typhoid.  The  table  is 
approximately  correct  up  to  January  1st,  1909.  It  will  be  noted 
that  Pittsburgh  is  not  included. 

Section  5. — Pittsburgh  Water  Supply,  Typhoid  Fever,  Conclusions. 

In  this  section  of  the  report  it  will  be  shown  how  what  happens 
on  the  watershed  of  the  Allegheny  River  affects  hundreds  of  thou- 
sands of  persons  living  in  Pittsburgh  and  relying  on  this  water  for 
daily  use.  On  August  17th,  1908,  the  Commissioner  of  Health  issued 
a  decree  to  the  city  of  Pittsburgh,  ordering  certain  things  to  be  done. 
In  this  document  the  following  description  of  the  water  works  sys- 
tem was  given. 

(a) — Pittsburgh  Water  Works  in  1908. 

"The  territory  comprising  the  Greater  Pittsburgh  District  as  incorpor- 
ated in  one  municipality,  now  includes  'Old  Pittsburgh'  or  all  the  land 
lying  east  of  the  confluence  of  the  Allegheny  and  Monnngahela  Rivers 
between  the  former  on  the  north  and  the  latter  on  the  south,  for  a  distance  of 
about  seven  miles  in  which  reside  approximately  300,000  people;  also  the  'South  Side' 
or  the  land  along  the  south  bank  of  the  Monongahela  River  opposite  Pittsburgh 
proper,  a  stretch  of  four  miles,  and  westerly  along  the  south  bank  of  the  Ohio 
River  for  2.5  miles  in  which  reside  approximately  100,000  people;  and  also  the 
'North  Side'  or  all  the  land  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Allegheny  opposite  old  Pitts- 
burgh, a  stretch  of  about  three  miles  and  westerly  along  the  north  bank  of  the  Ohio 
for  about  three  miles — formerly  the  city  of  Allegheny — in  which  reside  approximately 
150,000  people. 

"Beyond  the  site  described,  there  are  in  the  immediate  vicinity  many  municipalities 
which  are  closely  allied  with  Pittsburgh.  Numerous  territorial  accessions  by 
annexation  have  been  made  to  Pittsburgh  in  the  past.  It  was  under  the  provisions 
of  Act  No.  162,  approved  April  20th,  1&05,  providing  'that  where  two  cities  are 
contiguous  and  in  the  same  county,  the  smaller  may  be  annexed  to  the  larger'  that 
Allegheny  City  was  absorbed, 

299 


"The  annexation  idea  is  predominant  and  this  tendency  is  of  more  than  passing 
import. 

"Ranking  Bfth  among  the  cities  of  the  United  States  in  commercial  and  indus- 
trial importance-  because  it  is  the  port  of  entrj  and  transfer  between  the  east  and 
west  and  because  it  is  the  largest  shipping  point  for  bituminous  coal,  and  because 
ic  has  the  natural  fuel  supply  of  coal,  coke  and  gas  and  the  climate,  to  foster 
enterprise— no  period  of  its  expansion  has  been  more  promising  than  the  present. 
Local  problems  pertaining  to  public  water  supply  may  with  peculiar  reason  be 
contemplated  in  relation  to  probable  consolidation. 

"The  past  conditions  of  growth  offer  a  partial  explanation  of  the  different  inde- 
pendent water  Works  systems  found  existing  within  the  municipal  territory  of 
Pittsburgh  to-day. 

"In  'Old  Pittsburgh.'  comprising  wards  l  to  23,  inclusive,  Brushton  Borough, 
now  37th  Ward,  and  Sterrett  Township,  now  list  Ward,  there  are  two  systems, 
one  owned  by  the  municipality  and  the  other  owned  by  a  private  corporation  named 
the  Pennsylvania  Water  Company,  authorized  to  supply  water  to  the  public  in 
sa.id  borough  and  township  prior  t"  their  annexation  to  the  city. 

"In  the  'South  Side"  the  water  is  furnished  by  two  private  corporations;  one 
being  the  Monongahcla  Water  Company,  supplying  Wards  'J.",  to  36,  inclusive,  and 
the  39th  and  40th  Wards  (formerly  Elliott  and  Esplen  Boroughs),  and  the  other  being 
the  South  Pittsburgh  Water  Company  supplying  Wards  38,  42,  43  and  44,  formerly 
Beltzhoover,  Mon tooth,  Sheraden,  and  West   Liberty  Boroughs,  respectively. 

"The  Old  City  of  Allegheny,  now  the  'North  Side',  has  its  own  water  system. 

"Old  Pittsburgh   Water  Suppty. 

"Taking  up  each  system  in  the  order  stated,  with  respect  to  the  Old  Pittsburgh 
water  supply,  it  is  noted  that  the  topography  of  the  city  proper  is  so  uneven, 
elevations  ranging  over  500  feet,  that  distinct  systems  of  distribution  have  resulted. 
However,  all  water  is  primarily  lifted  into  the  Highland  Park  Reservoir  from  the 
Brilliant  Pumping  Station.  This  plant  is  located  on  the  south  bank  of  the 
Allegheny  about  six  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  river.  Formerly  the  water  was 
drawn  directly  from  the  river  at  this  point;  now  it  arrives  at  the  station  through 
pipes  connected  to  the  water  purification  plant  located  on  the  opposite  bank  in 
O'Hara  Township. 

"No  emergency  intake  is  provided  at  the  Brilliant  Station  whereby  raw  water 
may  be  admitted   to  the  system. 

"The  engines  comprise  four  fifteen  million  gallon  pumps,  four  twelve  million 
gallon  pumps  and  two  ten  million  gallon  pumps,  equivalent  to  a  combined 
capacity  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  million  gallons  per  twenty-four  hours. 
Since  the  maximum  daily  pumpage  is  eighty-three  million  gallons,  the  reserve  of 
forty-five  million  gallons  is  an  apparently  large  margin.  The  effective  margin,  taking 
into  account  contemplated  improvements  and  additions  to  the  system,  is  nearer 
thirty  million  gallons.  The  engine  room  floor  is  above  freshet  line;  but  the 
boilers  are  in  danger  of  being  put  out  of  commission  by  an  extraordinary  flood. 
Some  corrective  measures  are  planned  and  they  are  to  be  applied  at  an  early  date. 

"Highland  Reservoir  No.  1  has  a  storage  capacity  of  one  hundred  and  eighteen 
million  gallons.  Reservoir  No.  2  has  a  capacity  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  million 
gallons.  The  latter  is  ninety-one  feet  lower  in  elevation.  Both  are  on  the  hill 
back  from  and  near  the  pump  house.  Both  are  interchangeable,  and  both  may 
be  cut  off  and  the  supply  be  pumped  directly  into  town. 

"River  mud  at  times  is  excessive.  A  large  proportion  of  the  heavier  sediment  has 
in  the  past  been  deposited  in  the  reservoir.  Some  of  the  fine  material  found  its  way 
on  into  the  street  mains.  Now  that  filtered  water  is  being  furnished,  the  city 
is  engaged  in  cleaning  out  the  service  pipes  and  the  reservoir  preparatory  to  keeping 
them  in  such  condition. 

"The  distribution  districts  are  divided   into  a  low7,   high,   and  extra   high  service. 

"The  low   service  is  a  gravity   supply   from    reservoir   No.    2;   but  in   emergencies 
or  at  choice  it  may  be  connected  to  reservoir  No.    1.     This  territory  comprises  all 
the  lower  portion  of  the  city  bordering  on  the  Allegheny  and  Monongahcla  Rivers 
a   strip  not  over  one-half  mile  wide  at  any  place.     It  includes  the  manufacturing, 
mercantile  and  down-town  shopping  districts.     Probably  110,000  people  are  served. 

"The  high  service,  comprising  an  extensive  area  with  a  resident  population 
ot  00,000  people  is  supplied  by  gravity  from  Highland  Reservoir  No.  1.  The 
district  includes  the  lands  too  elevated    to  be  properly  reached  by  the  low  service. 

"The  extra  high  service  is  furnished  by  water  pumped  from  the  high  service  mains 
into  reservoirs  and  tanks  located  at  such  points  and  elevations  as  to  serve  districts 
above  the  reach  of  the  high  service  system.  There  are  four  such  services,  named 
in  order  of  importance,  Herron,   Bedford,  Garfield  and  Lincoln. 

"A  thirty  inch  main  from  reservoir  No.  1  feeds  the  Herron  Pumping  Station  at 
the  corner  of  Central  Avenue  and  Craig  Street  in  the  central  part  of  the  city  near 
Shenley  Park.  From  this  point  the  supply  is  pumped  into  the  reservoir  on  Her- 
ron Hill  not  far  distant,  and  also  by  a  separate  main  into  the  reservoir  on  Bedford 
Hill,  near  the  downtown  district.  The  latter  basin  holds  2.2."i  million  gallons 
and  supplies <a  mercantile  district  of  about  27,000  population.  The  former  holds  eight 
million  gallons  and  supplies  a  large  residential  area  of  about  47,000  population. 


.".CO 


"The  Garfield  tanks  are  of  steel  construction,  hold  500,000  gallons  and  supply 
about  10,000  people  resident  near  Highland  Park.  The  pumping  station  is  at  the 
corner  of  Dearborn  and  Pacific  Streets. 

"The  Lincoln  tanks  hold  250,000  gallons.  They  are  on  the  hillside  near  the 
east  cityline.  The  pump  house  is  located  on  the  corner  of  Park  Avenue  and  Dean 
Street.     There  are  resident  in  the  district  about   10,000  people. 

"About  seventy  million  gallons  is  the  present  average  daily  pumpage  at  the 
Brilliant  Station. 

"Pennsylvania  Water  Company. 

"The  population  within  the  city  supplied  by  the  Pennsylvania  Water  Company 
is  about  18,000.  All  service  connections  are  metered  and  the  estimated  consumption 
is  about  forty  gallons  per  capita.  On  the  municipal  system  it  is  between  230  and 
260  gallons. 

"The  company  was  chartered  in  1887  to  supply  water  in  the  township  of  Sterrett, 
out  of  which  the  37th  Ward,  formerly  Brushton  Borough,  and  the  41st  Ward,  were 
made.  The  plant  supplies  Wilkinsburg  and  other  places  as  far  south  as  North 
Braddock.  In  1899  the  Pennsylvania  Water  Company  purchased  the  works  of 
the  Turtle  Creek  Valley  Water  Company,  built  to  supply  the  borough  in  the 
Turtle  Creek  Valley  and  then  known  as  the  East  Pittsburgh  Water  Company. 
The  whole  territory  is  now  supplied  from  the  pumping  station  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Water  Company  on  the  Allegheny  Kiver  at  Nadine.  This  point  is  about  two  miles 
above  the  Brilliant  Pumping  Station. 

"The  water  is  taken  from  three  filter  cribs  built  four  feet  below  the  bottom  of 
the  river  bed. 

"Crib  No.  1  is  308  feet  long  by  33  feet  wide  and  5  feet  deep.  It  is  covered  with 
gravel  and  sand. 

"Cribs  Nos.  2  and  3  are  each  408  feet  long  by  48  feet  wide  by  5  feet  deep,  built 
in  the  same  way,  corn  crib  fashion. 

"From  No.  1  crib  a  twenty-four  inch  cast  iron  pipe  is  laid  below  the  bed  of  the 
river  to  a  manhole  on  the  south  bank  of  the  river.  From  Cribs  Nos.  2  and  3 
a  forty-two  inch  cast  iron  pipe  is  laid  below  the  bed  of  the  river  to  the  same 
manhole;  thence  to  the  pump  there  is  a  six  foot  tunnel.  The  bottom  of  the  river 
over  the  cribs  is  not  allowed  to  silt  up.  This  is  prevented  by  dragging  over  it 
a  rake  made  of  pipe  from  which  water  is  discharged  in  small  jets  under  pressure 
of  100  pounds  per  square  inch.  The  observed  reduction  of  bacteria  in  water  pumped 
compared  to  the  raw  water  is  between  90  and  99  per  cent,  when  the  cribs  are  in 
working  order.     Occasionally  the  cribs  fall  off  in  efficiency. 

"One  ten  million  gallon  and  one  six  gallon  pumping  engine  raise  the  water 
to  a  reservoir  of  six  million  gallons  capacity,  located  on  high  ground  back  of  the 
station  and  distant  therefrom  5,000  feet.  About  23,000  feet  from  reservoir  No.  1 
is  reservoir  No.  2,  which  holds  twelve  million  gallons.  They  are  connected  by  a 
forty-two  inch  pipe.  The  portion  of  the  city  noted,  is  supplied  principally  from 
reservoir  No.  1;  but  Ward  37  may  be  supplied  directly  from  reservoir  No.  2. 

"The  water  furnished  by  the  Pennsylvania  Water  Company  is  usually  clear. 
It  is  generally  superior  in  quality  to  that  furnished  by  the  city  prior  to  the  starting 
up  of  the  Aspinwall  filters. 

"Monongahela  Water  Company. 

"As  stated  above,  the  'South  Side,  excepting  Wards  38,  42,  43  and  44,  is  supplied 
by  the  Monongahela  Water  Company.  To  meet  the  conditions  imposed  by  broken 
topography,  three  services  with  reservoirs  and  tanks  at  different  elevations  have 
been  installed  by  the  company.  They  comprise  the  low  district,  the  Allen  town 
high  district,  and  the  Esplen  district. 

"The  larger  part  of  the  supply  is  pumped  from  the  Monongahela  River  at  the 
main  pumping  station  situated  on  the  river  front  at  the  foot  of  29th  Street.  The 
water  is  raised  into  the  Birmingham  settling  basins,  open  brick-lined  structures 
built  in  the  nearby  hillside  at  the  head  of  31st  Street  at  the  elevation  of  about  200 
feet  above  the  river.  These  basins  have  a  total  capacity  of  three  million  gallons 
and  from  them  the  water  flows  by  gravity  to  the  low  service  area  lying  between  the 
foot  hills  and  the  river. 

"The  intake  is  a  thirty-six  inch  pipe  run  out  to  the  middle  of  the  stream.  There 
is  a  screen  on  the  end  of  it.  The  power  plant  is  subject  to  inundation.  The  pumps 
are  not  in  first  class  order.  There  are  five  of  them,  one  being  four  million,  two 
being  ten  million  and  two  being  five  million  gallons  capacity.  The  latter  raise  water 
598  feet  high  through  a  twenty  inch  line  into  three  settling  basins,  each  sixty  feet 
in  diameter  by  forty  feet  high,  located  in  the  27th  Ward  on  the  highest  ground 
available  in  the  Allentown  district.  Thirty-eight  thousand  people  reside  in  the  hill 
area — Wards  27,  31,  32  and  35 — served  by  these  tanks. 

"A  sub-station,  of  not  much  account,  at  the  Birmingham  basins,  is  maintained 
m  reserve  to  pump  water  through  a  ten  inch  pipe  and  by  a  cross  connection  into  the 
twenty  inch  line  to  the  tanks. 

"The  Allentown  and  the  low  service  area  comprising  Wards  24  to  35,   inclusive 
and  Ward  36  in  the  Esplen  territory,  constitute  the  old  district  of  the  'South  Side'' 
Eighty-three   thousand   people   are   now   resident   therein.     The   daily   consumption 
excepting   the  26th   Ward,    approximates   twelve  million  gallons   and   the  water   is 

20  301 


delivered    through   ninety   miles   of   street    main.      These   mains   are   known    to    be 
clogged  with  mud  deposits.  ,   ,     _  „      _  . . 

••The  aew  Esplen  plaul  was  built  by  the  Monongahela  Water  Company  and  put 
in  service  in  1895.  It  is  now  operated  in  conjunction  with  the  Old  District  works. 
Besides  Ward  36,  it  includes  the  39tb  and  -loth  Wards  (formerly  Elliott  and  Esplen 
boroughs),  and  outside  of  the  city,  part  of  the  borough  oi  McKees  Bocks  and 
parts  of  Chartiers  and  Stowe  townships.  _ 

"The  water  is  pumped  from  the  Ohio  River  at  a  point  opposite  Brunors  island. 
There  arc  two  filter  cribs  here  sunk  in  the  river  bed  from  each  of  which  a  twenty- 
four  inch  supplv  pipe  leads  to  wells  in  the  station.  There  arc  also  fourteen  twelve 
inch  drilled  wells;  each  about  fifty  feet  deep,  from  which  water  is  drawn.  Ihe 
supplv  is  lifted  by  two  pumping  engines,  each  three  million  gallons  capacity, 
a  vertical  height  of  425  feet  to  two  steel  tanks,  each  fifty  feet  in  diameter  and 
seventy  feet  high,  located  on  Sheraden  Hill,  from  whence  the  discharge  is  by  gravity 
to  the' district.      Ward  •'>('>  contains  about  4.0(H)  people. 

"The  superiority  of  the  plants  under  municipal  control  in  Pittsburgh  proper  as 
compared  with  private  ownership  on  the  'South  Side',  above  described,  is  particu- 
larly conspicuous  in  every  detail  of  design,  management  and  maintenance,  and 
is  one  reason   for  popular  sentiment  favorable  to  city   ownership. 

"In  December.  1906,  the  city  petitioned  for  appraisement  of  the  value  of  the  plant 
and  property  of  the  Monongahela  Water  Company  Lying  in  Wards  -I  to  .'ii),  inclusive, 
since  these  were  the  city  limits  in  1885,  when  an  agreement  was  entered  into  between 
the  city  and  the  water  company,  whereby  the  latter  obtained  an  exclusive  franchise 
for  twentv-one  years  to  the  said  territory  of  thirteen  wards. 

"The  companv  does  not  now  own  any  pipes  outside  of  the  24tb  and  36th  wards, 
inclusive,  excepting  the  pipe  system  connected  with  the  Esplen  plant  which  lies 
largely  outside  the  limits  of  the  city.  All  others  were  purchased  by  the  Chartiers 
Valley  Water  Company  in  1896. 

"So  the  Monongahela  Water  Company  will  continue  to  exercise  its  franchises 
outside  the  'Old  District'  but  still  within  Pittsburgh's  limits  subsequent  to  any 
purchase  of  the  'Old  District'  plant  by  the  city. 

"In  fixing  upon  a  fair  value  for  the  plant  to  be  purchased,  the  water  company's 
experts  have  frankly  admitted  that  improvements  are  advisable  and  necessary  and 
would  be  made  by  any  private  individual  accustomed  to  successful  management  of 
water  works  property'.  The  quality  of  the  water  must  be  improved  by  filtration. 
The  company's  plans  proposed  as  a  basis  for  estimation  of  cost  of  giving  good  service 
is  to  locate' a  fifteen  million  gallon  filter  plant  at  the  Birmingham  reservoir,  build 
settling  basins  of  approved  type  out  of  one  of  the  existing  basins  and  use  the  other 
to  store  filtered  water;  erect  two  new  vertical  pumps  at  the  29th  Street  Station 
to  pump  all  the  water  needed  from  the  river  to  the  settling  basins ;  provide  a  return 
pipe  to  remodeled  high  district  pumps  for  delivery  of  filtered  water  to  Allentown 
tanks:  build  a  new  pump  house  and  plant  at  the  reservoir;  raise  up  and  alter  the 
main  station;  clean  out  all  street  pipes:  re-build  intakes,  and  in  fact,  re-vamp  the 
entire  system  to  secure  an  up-to-date  service. 

"At  the  present  time  there  is  no  competition  whatever  in  the  supply  of  water  in  the 
district.  There  is  a  contract  existing  between  the  Monongahela  Water  and  the 
South  Pittsburgh  Water  Company,  the  only  other  concern  supplying  water  to 
adjacent  territory,  whereby  these  two  companies  refrain  from  entering  Into  compe-. 
tition.  This  should  operate  to  the  benefit  of  the  service  at  once  in  the  Esplen 
district  and  also  in  the  thirteen  wards  in  event  of  the  failure  of  the  city  to  acquire 
the  latter  works. 

"It  is  the  city's  plan  to  supply  filtered  water  should  the  'South  Side'  plant  come 
under  municipal  control.  The  obligation  of  the  water  company  is  equally  as 
great  at  all  times  to  supply  pure  water  at  reasonable  rates,  subject  to  the  regula- 
tion of  the  court. 

"South  Pittsburgh  Water  Company. 

"The  South  Pittsburgh  Water  plant  comprises  a  pumping  station  on  the  Monon- 
gahela River  at  P>eck's  Run,  about  one  mile  up-stream  from  the  29th  Street  Sta- 
tion of  the  Monongahela  Water  Company,  a  buried  filter  crib  in  the  river  bed  and 
two  auxiliary  pipe  lines  leading  directly  from  the  stream  into  the  pump  well,  a 
mechanical  filter  plant  including  settling  tanks,  filters,  clear  water  basin,  chemical 
laboratories  and  all  appurtenances  of  latest  and  most  approved  pattern,  three 
five  million  gallon  service  pumps  at  the  filter  plant  to  raise  the  water  into  a  steel 
tank  on  the  hill  in  Mt.  Oliver  borough  and  a  system  of  distributing  mains  reaching 
a  large  population  in  the  municipalities  bordering  the  Pittsburgh  boundary  and  in  the 
townships  beyond.  It  also  serves  the  four  hill  wards  of  the  city  above  men- 
tioned. The  works  are  managed  with  exemplary  care  under  skilled  direction.  The 
water  is  clear  and  pure  and  the  service  is  eminently  satisfactory.  This  feature 
has  materially  aided  in  the  building  up  of  the  district.  A  contract  exists  between 
the  city  and  the  company  for  fire  hydrant  service.  All  the  territory  covered  by 
this  water  company  and  by  the  Pennsylvania  Water  Company  will  in  all  likeli- 
hood be  annexed  to  Pittsburgh  and  following  there  is  likely  to  lie  agitation  for 
municipal  control  of  the  water  works.  Naturally  city  ownership  would  effect 
alterations  in  methods  of  distribution.  Such  possibility  need  only  be  thought  of  in 
considering  the  present  question  of  supplying  filtered  water  to  the  north  and  south 
sides  of  Pittsburgh  as  at  present  incorporated. 

302 


"Allegheny  (Jitij. 

"The  'North  Side',  formerly  Allegheny  City,  is  supplied  entirely  from  water  works 
owned  and  operated  by  the  municipality  and  like  the  other  parts  of  Pittsburgh, 
the  topography  is  irregular,  ranging  600  feet  or  more  in  elevation  so  that  there  are 

several  systems  of  distribution. 

"The  supply  is  taken  from  the  Allegheny  River  at  two  points.  At  .Montrose 
village  in  O'Haru  Township,  opposite  Verona,  9.5  miles  up-stream,  is  the  principal 
pumping  station.  An  auxiliary  plant  called  River  Avenue  Station  is  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  'North  Side'  at  the  site  of  the  original  pump  house  built  in 
1849. 

"The  Montrose  intake  has  a  timber  crib  2,500  feet  long  by  32  feet  wide  by  7  feet 
deep,  placed  in  a  trench  excavation  in  the  river  bottom.  It  is  planked  on  top  and 
covered  with  gravel  to  original  surface  of  the  channel  and  its  sides  are  riprapped 
filling.  Difficulty  has  been  experienced  in  keeping  the  structure  open  to  admit  of 
the  passage  of  water.  The  sides  have  been  dredged  out  for  this  purpose;  but  they 
fill  up  again.  So  far  as  keeping  out  silt  from  the  pump  chambers  or  clarifying  the 
river  water  goes  the  crib  may  as  well  be  out  of  commission. 

"There  are  two  fifteen  million  gallon  triple  expansion  pumping  engines  and 
three  twelve  million  gallon  cross  compound  pumping  engines  in  the  station.  They 
raise  about  forty  million  gallons  of  water  daily  a  vertical  height  of  247  feet 
through  a  sixty  inch  steel  force  main  9.5  miles  long  to  Troy  Hill  Reservoir,  where 
the  water  is  delivered  directly  into  the  low  service  district  without  going  into  the 
reservoir.  The  surplus  overflows  into  duplicate  basins  at  said  reservoir.  The 
two  large  pumps  are  new.  They  were  put  in  final  commission  early  in  the  cur- 
rent year.  Now  all  the  supply  is  pumped  at  the  Montrose  Station ;  but  prior  to 
1907,  for  ten  years  or  so,  about  one-third  of  the  water  supply  was  drawn  from  the 
river  at  the  River  Avenue  Station.  Steam  in  one  battery  of  boilers  is  still  kept 
up  at  this  old  station  in  readiness  for  use  during  emergencies. 

"Here  the  intakes  are  two  twenty-four  inch  and  one  thirty-six  inch  pipe.  They 
extend  down  stream  for  fifty-six  feet  and  are  perforated  with  one  inch  holes.  The 
plant  is  subject  to  possible  interruption  of  service  at  times  of  extreme  high  water. 
A  combined  rated  capacity  of  thirty-three  million  gallons  is  afforded  by  the  five 
pumps.  They  are  in  poor  condition.  The  water  is  raised  to  Troy  Hill  "Reservoir 
near  by. 

"The  Troy  Hill  Reservoir  holds  7,500,000  gallons.  It  is  of  earth  embankment 
construction,  concrete  lined  and  paved  with  brick.  A  wall  divides  the  reservoir  into 
two  basins  of  about  equal  capacity.  Each  is  in  poor  condition,  especially  at  the 
frost  line. 

"From  Troy  Hill  Reservoir  the  water  was  formerly  furnished  by  gravity  to  the 
low  service  district  comprising  a  belt  of  varying  width  extending  nearly  the  whole 
length  of  the  river  front.  The  section  includes  all  the  manufacturing  and  com- 
mercial districts  and  covers  an  area  of  about  2.5  square  miles.  The  population 
served  approximates  95,000  people;  not  only  the  low  but  the  several  distinct  high 
services  draw  water  from  the  basins.  A  thirty  inch  and  sixteen  inch  gravity 
main  extends  northeast  about  a  mile  to  the  Howard  Street  pumping  station  which 
is  located  at  the  corner  of  Howard  and  Rising  Main  Streets.  Here  five  pumping 
engines  raise  the  water  into  tanks  into  districts  B,  C,  and  D.  Each  tank 
is  forty  feet  in  diameter  and  twenty-two  feet  high. 

"There  is  one  eight  million  and  one  five  million  triple  expansion  pumping  engine 
and  one  three  million  and  two  two  million  and  a  half  gallon  pumping  engines  of  the 
combined  duplex  type  in  the  station. 

"A  twenty-four  inch  main  leads  to  two  tanks  on  Nunnery  Hill  near  by.  They 
are  elevated  288  feet  above  the  Troy  Reservoir.  From  them  a  residential  area 
of  one  square  mile  lying  directly  north  of  the  low  service  district  and  comprising 
20,000  people  is  supplied  by  a  gravity  flow.     This  is  high  service  district  B. 

"A  separate  twenty-four  inch  main  also  leads  to  two  tanks  located  eighty-five  feet 
higher  on  Nunnery  Hill  which  feed  district  C,  an  area  of  2.7  square  miles  extending 
to  the  northerly  city  boundary  and  containing  an  approximate  population  of  20,000 
people. 

"An  irregular  shaped  area  of  1.2  square  miles  adjacent  to  the  eastern  boundary 
of  the  city,  containing  a  population  of  about  10,000  people,  comprises  high  service 
district  D.  It  is  fed  from  two  tanks  on  Spring  Hill.  A  -sixteen  inch  force  main 
from  the  Howard  Street  Station  delivers  water  into  these  tanks.  They  are  elevated 
about  369  feet  above  the  Troy  Reservoir. 

"In  district  C  at  the  city  line  is  Green  Tree  Hill,  the  highest  land  in  Allegheny 
County.  On  this  eminence  are  two  tanks  supplied  with  water  from  an  auxiliary 
pumping  station  on  Broadway.  The  tanks  feed  a  local  extra  high  area  of  about 
two-tenths  square  miles.  The  pumps  are  electrically  driven  and  have  a  capacity  of 
one  million  gallons  each.     The  consumption  is  small. 

"At  the  Troy  Hill  Reservoir  is  a  pumping  station  containing  two  pumps,  rated 
capacity  1,000,000  gallons  each,  which  supply  by  direct  pressure  a  district  of  about 
three  tenths  square  miles  on  the  hill  land  in  the  vicinity. 

"The  investigator  must  be  struck  with  the  lack  in  the  water  works  of  opportunity 
for  sedimentation.  Troy  Hill  Reservoir  has  too  little  capacity  to  assure  the  removal 
of  silt.  Water  of  the  quality  of  the  Allegheny  River,  if  delivered  into  the  system 
without  sedimentation  or  purification,  is  bound  to  clog  up  the  pipes  and  house  con- 

303 


Elections  and  reduce  the  efficiency  of  the  works  and  hence  increase  the  cost  of 
operation  and  maintenance.  These  matters  are  indirectly  prejudicial  to  the  public 
health. 

"  ll'i//(7-  Purification  Plant. 

"Plana  for  a  complete  purification  plant  to  furnish  all  of  the  city  of  Pittsburgh, 
including  the  'South  Side'  with  pure  water  were  adopted  and  the  construction  work 
begun    in    1905. 

"Opposite  the  Brilliant  Pumping  Station  and  just  above  it  on  the  north  bank  of  the 
river  is  a  level  plateau  over  a  mile  long  and  about  half  a  mile  wide  whose  elevation 
is  higher  than  the  highesl  Ereshet  ever  recorded.  Here  a  slow  sand  filtration  plant 
has  been  erected,  consisting  of  a  pumping  station,  sedimentation  basins,  forty- 
six  acres  of  covered  filter  beds,  each  an  acre  in  area,  covered  filtered  water  basin  and 
gravity  supply  mains  under  the  river  to  the  pump  wells  in  the  Brilliant  Station. 
The  net  daily  capacity  of  the  filters  is  one  hundred  million  gallons  based  on  a 
maximum  rate  of  filtration  of  three  million  gallons  per  acre  per  24  hours,  making 
allowance  for  cleaning  and  other  operations.  The  works  were  designed  for  future 
additions,  space  having  been  reserved  therefor  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the  tract 
owned  by  the  city. 

"The  site  is  in  O'Hara  Township,  bounded  on  the  west  by  Aspiuwall  borough. 
At  the  upper  end  of  the  said  tract  are  the  new  intakes  and  pumping  station  called 
Ross  Station.  The  capacity  is  between  140  million  and  180  million  gallons  per  24 
hours,  dependent  on  the  height  of  the  river  water.  These  engines  raise  the  raw 
water  into  the  central  receiving  basin,  capacity  twenty  million  gallons,  on  either  side 
of  which  are  larger  sedimentation  basins,  capacity  sixty  million  gallons  each,  from 
which  the  water  passes  to  the  filters. 

"The  heavier  suspended  matters  deposit  in  the  primary  receiving  basin.  All 
three  basins  are  designed  to  drain  to  sumps  leading  to  the  drainage  system  of  the 
plant. 

"The  conduits  carrying  settled  water  from  the  basins  lead  to  the  central  gate 
chamber  at  the  primary  receiving  basin.  The  operation  of  the  entire  plant  is  con- 
trolled and  directed  at  the  administration  building,  erected  over  the  central  gate 
chamber.  Here  are  the  offices,  rooms,  operating  mechanism  and  bacteriological 
and  chemical  laboratories. 

"The  sedimentation  basins  are  at  the  foot  of  the  hill.  The  filters  lie  between 
them  and  Freeport  road  and  the  tracks  of  the  West  Penn  Division  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad  near  the  river  bank. 

"Passing  through  the  site  of  the  filters  is  a  right-of-way  in  which  the  sixty 
inch  Montrose  Station  force  main  to  the  Troy  Hill  Reservoir  extends.  This  strip, 
sixteen  feet  wide,  is  laid  out  as  a  driveway  and  divides  the  filter  layout  into  north 
and  south  parts,  three  rows  of  filters  being  in  each  part.  The  distribution  and 
collection  system  of  pipes  run  at  right  angles  to  the  driveway.  The  pipes  are 
housed  in  covered  galleries  thirty-one  feet  wide  in  the  clear,  placed  between  alter- 
nate rows  of  filters.  There  are  four  of  them,  each  about  1,000  feet  long,  including 
the  north  and  south  part,  and  they  contain  all  auxiliary  apparatus  and  machinery 
foi  scraping,  washing  and  restoring  sand. 

"There  is  a  fan  heating  and  ventilating  system  in  each  gallery  to  maintain  a 
uniform  temperature,  also  an  attendant's  room.  A  toilet  room  and  locker  and 
lunch  room  are  provided  in  each  half  gallery.  The  floors  of  all  these  places  are 
made  tight  and  arranged  for  ready  cleaning. 

"Two  sand  washing  tanks  of  concrete  are  placed  in  each  half  gallery.  The  flow 
of  dirty  water  from  the  outlet  weir  of  these  washers  passes  directly  into  the  drain. 
All  the  drainage  is  intercepted  by  a  large  main  trunk  drain  along  Freeport  road, 
which  empties  into  the  river  opposite  gallery  numer  one. 

"Adequate  facilities  for  the  treatment  and  disposal  of  the  sewage  created  at  the 
water  filtration  plant  have  been  provided.  Approval,  according  to  law,  was  given 
in  a  permit  issued  by  the  Commissioner  of  Health  under  date  of  April  29,  1907. 

"The  filter  beds  have  groined  concrete  floors  and  covers.  The  latter  are  carried 
on  concrete  piers  fourteen  feet  on  centres.  The  gravel  underdrains  total  one 
foot  in  thickness,  the  sizes  ranging  from  five  to  one  and  a  half  inches  in  diameter. 
The  sand  layer  is  between  two  and  four  feet  deep.  The  underdrainage  system 
consists' of  a  concrete  main  collector  extending  the  length  of  the  filter  in  the 
longitudinal  centre  bay  and  a  lateral  drain  six  to  eighteen  inches  in  diameter  in 
e.oh  transverse  bay  connects  to  this  main  collector.  The  latter  has  pipe  connection 
to  its  corresponding  regulating  chamber,  located  in  the  gallery. 

"An  automatic  recording  gauge,  indicating  the  rate  of  filtration,  loss  of  head  and 
the  depth  of  water  over  the  sand,  is  supplied  for  each  filter.  The  facilities  for 
back-flooding  the  beds  and  for  draining  them  and  for  the  ordinary  feed,  are 
ample.  Sand  scraping  and  sand  restoring  machinery  are  used.  However,  the 
desitrn  permits  of  this  work  being  done  by  hand  were  it  necessary  for  any  reason. 

"The  filtered  water  conduit  in  each  gallery  connects  with  the  main  conduit  ten 
feet  four  inch"s  in  diameter,  extending  to  the  filtered  water  reservoir.  This  structure 
is  built  of  concrete,  groin  arched,  width  at  one  end  294  feet,  with  a  total  length 
between  the  ends  of  1,194  feet,  and  holding  forty-two  million  gallons.  The  roof 
is  supported  by  piers  twenty-one  and  a  half  feet  high,  spaced  eighteen  feet  apart  on 
centres.     The  up-stream  end  is  in  line  with  the  down-stream  gallery  of  the  filters. 

304 


"The  river  side  of  the  reservoir  is  nearly  parallel  and  125  feet  from  the  harbor 
line  Here  an  embankment  has  been  filled  in  on  a  slope  of  two  to  one.  'I  he  slope 
is  protected  up  to  the  elevation  of  extreme  floods  with  a  heavy  concrete  revetment. 
A  level  berm  twenty  to  forty  feet  in  width  is  carried  back  from  the  top  of  the 
revetment  to  a  second  slope,  rising  to  the  level  of  the  filling  over  the  reservoir 
roof.  Tile  drainage  and  puddle  cover  have  been  provided  to  prevent  percolation 
of  surface  waters  into  the  filtered  water  basin. 

"There  is  an  inlet  and  outlet  chamber  at  the  reservoir.  An  eighty-four  inch  by- 
pass, laid  on  the  reservoir  floor,  connects  the  two.  The  inflow  may  be  measured  by 
weir  apparatus.  The  outflow  is  through  two  seventy-two  inch  pipes,  hud  under  the 
river  to  the  pumping  station  at  Brilliant.  A  place  for  a  third  seventy-two  inch 
pipe  has  been  left.  A  Venturi  meter  is  set  up  in  each  seventy-two  inch  pipe.  This 
is  the  last  of  four  measuring  stations  by  which  the  quantity  of  water  flowing  from 
various  parts  of  the  plant  may  be  observed  and  loss  located. 

"In  connection  with  distributing  filtered  water  a  fifty  inch  pipe  line  has  been 
laid  from  Highland  Reservoir  to  a  point  on  the  north  side  of  the  Monongahela 
River,  a  distance  of  about  five  miles,  and  thence  under  the  river  by  a  thirty-six 
inch  pipe,  to  supply  the  'South  Side'.  The  thirty-six  inch  main  connects  at  29th 
Street  with  the  system  of  the  Monongahela  Water  Company,  but  water  is  not 
furnished,  but  might  be  in  an  emergency. 

"The  general  idea  of  the  landscape  treatment  of  the  entire  water  filter  layout 
is  to  isolate  the  site  from  surroundings  by  hedges  and  seed  down  the  entire  en- 
closure, lay  out  drives  around  and  by  the  sedimentation  basins,  pump  house  and 
filters  and  reduce  the  formality  of  the  view  by  shrubbery  and  small  trees  along 
the  drives.  ' 

"Three  filters  were  put  in  commission  in  December  last,  seven  in  January,  eight 
in  March,  six  in  April  and  three  in  May,  and  now  there  are  altogether  thirty-nine 
units  operated.  They  are  distributed  along  each  of  the  four  galleries.  All  of  the 
water  delivered  through  the  Brilliant  pumping  station,  as  previoulsy  stated,  comes 
from  the  purification  plant;  but  not  all  is  filtered.  Only  forty-one  million  gallons 
daily  pass  through  the  sand  beds.  The  balance  to  make  up  the  seventy  million 
gallons  daily  consumption,  more  or  less,  in  Pittsburgh  is  water  settled  in  the 
sedimentation  basins.  The  two  waters  are  mixed,  since  there  is  no  way  of  keeping 
them  separated. 

"If  the  thirty-nine  filters  were  operated  at  their  normal  capacity,  all  of  the 
seventy  million  gallons  would  be  filtered.  This  result  is  to  be  accomplished  as 
soon  as  possible.  Fifteen  men  are  now  engaged  in  operating  galleries;  they  are 
distributed  as  follows:  two  filter  attendants  for  four  galleries;  two  laborers  for 
four  galleries ;  one  filter  foreman ;  this  makes  a  force  of  five  men  for  four  galleries 
for  each  shift  of  eight  hours  or  fifteen  men  for  each  twenty-four  hours.  An  additional 
filter  attendant  and  an  additional  filter  laborer  for  each  shift  is  to  be  put  on. 
This  will  make  twenty-seven  men  for  each  twenty-four  hours  instead  of  fifteen 
men.  With  this  force  the  higher  rates  are  to  be  attained  as  soon  as  possible  without 
jeopardizing  the  entire  plant. 

"In  the  cleaning  operations  there  are  now  employed  four  machine  operators,  four 
filter  laborers,  two  washer  attendants  and  one  machinist.  This  force  is  to  be 
doubled.  It  has  been  found  necessary  to  do  this  to  successfully  work  all 
the  filters.  Without  adequate  cleaning  force,  if  the  beds  were  run  to  their  full 
capacity,  it  would  tie  up  the  entire  plant.  The  unusually  high  turbidity  of  the 
Allegheny  River  this  summer  has  retarded  the  development  of  the  filters  to  their 
maximum  efficiency. 

"In  the  laboratory  work,  whose  results  give  the  important  index  of  necessary 
corrective  measures  in  daily  and  hourly  operation  there  are  now  employed  one  analyst 
in  charge,  one  assistant  chemist,  two  laboratory  assistants,  two  sample  collectors 
and  one  laborer.     Other  help  will  be  employed  as  required. 

"Proposed  Additions. 

"The  city  asks  approval  of  plans  for  the  erection  of  ten  additional  filter  units 
of  the  same  size  and  form  of  construction  as  the  existing  filters,  to  be  located  up- 
stream on  the  land  belonging  to  the  city  and  reserved  for  this  purpose. 

"The  annexation  of  Allegheny  City  has  extended  the  territory  and  usefulness  of 
the  filtration  works.  The  present  plant  has  a  maximum  capacity  of  one  hundred 
million  gallons.  The  greatest  consumption  in  Pittsburgh  as  recorded  is  eighty-three 
million  gallons.  The  Monongahela  Water  Company's  district,  if  supplied  by  the 
city,  will  call  for  twelve  million  additional  gallons  of  filtered  water,  making  a*  total 
of  ninety-five  million  gallons  needed. 

"The  'North  Side'  consumption  is  now  forty  thousand  gallons  daily ;  so  it  is 
evident  that  ten  additional  units  are  none  too  many.  It  is  understood,'  however, 
that  experiments  with  preliminary  treatment  are  now  in  progress  as  a  basis  of  design 
for  materially  increasing  the  capacity  of  the  existing  sand  beds.  This  study  of  pre- 
liminary treatment  is  heartily  recommended.  The  State  Department  of  Health  will 
be  glad  to  favorably  consider  any  well  conceived  method,  thoroughly  tested,  with 
special  reference  to  adaptability  to  local  conditions. 

"The  exigencies  of  the  case,  however,  warrant  no  delay  in  providing  for  additional 
capacity,  and  the  plans  proposed  for  ten  filters  should  be  executed  at  once. 

305 


" The  city  also  proposes,  as  Boob  as  money  therefor  shall  have  boon  provided,  to 
add  low  service  pumping  machinery  to  the  Ross  pumping  station  and  to  build  and 
equip  a  now  high  Bervicc  pumping  station  at  Aspinwall  for  the  purpose  of  delivering 
filtered  water  into  the  Allegheny  mains;  and  when  this  has  been  done,  to  abandon 
the  old  River  Avenue  pumping  station  and  also  the  Montrose  pumping  station. 

"Further,  it  is  contemplated  to  build  a  reservoir  of  about  one  hundred  million 
gallons  capacity  somewhere  along  the  pipe  line  route  to  Allegheny. 

"Still  further,  in  connection  with  the  furnishing  of  filtered  water  to  the  'South 
Side'  when  the  city  takes  over  the  works  of  the  Monongahela  Wain-  Company,  it 
purposes  to  abandon  the  use  of  the  low  service  pumps  at  the  29th  Streel  Station 
at  once  and  to  deliver  filtered  water  into  the  district  mains.    The  filtered  water  supply 

will  bo  lifted  by  the  high  service  pumps  at  this  station  to  the  Allentown  tanks, 
pending  the  building  and  equipment  of  now  high  service  pumps  and  their  installation 
in  a  now  house  to  lie  erected  at  a  site  (\-c^  from  inundations  or  Hoods.  Upon  coin- 
pletion   of   this   work    the  29th   Street   station  will   bo   entirely   abandoned." 


(b) — The  Commissioner  of  Health's  Decree  of  J908  and  its  Fulfill- 
ment. 

This  description  was  followed  by  a  discussion  of  the  Pittsburgh 
water  supply  situation  and  the  decree,  as  follows: — 

"The  policy  of  the  State  in  subserving  the  interests  of  public  health  bears  n  pecu- 
liar relationship  to  the  endeavors  of  the  authorities  of  Pittsburgh  along  the  same 
lines.  The  sewages  of  the  municipalities  situated  on  the  banks  of  the  Allegheny 
and  Monongahela  Rivers  above  Pittsburgh  pollute  to  a  very  considerable  degree 
the  waters  which  are  the  source  of  supply  to  all  the  districts  hereinbefore  described. 
Even  the  city's  own  sewage  pollutes  the  water  which  passes  over  or  by  the  intakes 
of  the  River  Avenue.  29th  Street  and  Esplen  pumping  stations.  To  these  facts 
have  been  attributed  rightfully  a  considerable  proportion  of  the  typhoid  fever  cases 
and  deaths  of  Allegheny  County. 

"A  circuit  between  the  city,  its  environment  and  the  country  beyond  is  existent 
no  doubt  whereby  infection  is  transmitted  back  and  forth  through  the  medium  of 
water,  milk  and  food  stuffs.  The  circuit  can  only  be  cut  when  all  of  the  drinking 
water  in  the  city  is  pure. 

"A  compulsory  proper  disposal  of  household  wastes  of  a  poisonous  nature  at  the 
farms  and  in  the  villages  is  going  along  apace  under  State  direction;  but  the.  com- 
pulsory discontinuance  of  the  discharge  of  municipal  sewage  into  the  city's  drinking 
water  must  necessarily  require  a  long  term  of  years  for  accomplishment.  Meantime, 
the  people  must  have  pure  water,  and  there  is  one  law  for  all  water  works  whether 
owned  and  operated  by  a  private  or  municipal  corporation.  The  Pennsylvania  Water 
Company  now  has  pending  before  the  State  Department  for  approval,  plans  for 
improving  its  water  supply  which  have  a  relation  to  the  future  development  of  the 
municipal  system.  The  Monongahela  Water  Company,  held  up  for  the  time  being 
in  making  improvements  by  the  probability  of  having  its  plant  partly  taken  away, 
must  also  provide  adequate  works  to  purify  the  water  supplied  to  its  consumers 
and  a  decree  to  this  effect  will  be  issued. 

"It  has  been  determined  that  the  existing  city  water  works  will  not  be  prejudicial 
to  public  health  under  certain  conditions,  and  the  same  are  hereby  and  herein  ap- 
proved and  a  permit  granted  for  the  proposed  extensions,  alterations  and  im- 
provements, uncler  the  following  conditions  and  stipulations: 

"FIRST:  That  this  permit  shall  relate  only  to  the  water  works  now  owned  and 
operated  or  that  may  be  owned  and  operated  by  the  city  between  the  territory  now 
comprised  within  the  boundaries  of  the  city  of  Pittsburgh  as  incorporated  August 
1st,  1908.  The  acquirement  of  water  works  or  extensions  of  water  works  b\  the 
city  into  any  area  bcy<  nd  the  said  municipal  territory  of  August  1st,  1908,  shall  be 
made  under  ih''  provisions  of  law  requiring  a  written  permit  by  the  Commissioner  of 
Health. 

"SECOND:  That  the  city  shall  immediately  upon  its  acquirement  of  the  Monon- 
gahela Water  Company's  plant  in  the  thirteen  wards,  fully  inform  the  Commissioner 
of  Health  of  the  Eact  of  the  nature  and  terms  of  the  agreement  between  the  city 
and  the  water  company  and  the  extent  of  the  plant  as  acquired,  more  particularly 
in  its  bearing  to  any  remaining  property  or  works  of  the  said  water  company  "within 
the  city  limits  and  similar  information  shall  be  given  with  regards  to  any  acquirement 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Water  Company's  plant  in  part  by  the  city. 

"THIRD:  That  monthly  reports  of  the  operation  of  the  water  purification  plant 
and  of  the  water  works  system,  shall  be  filed  in  the  office  of  the  Commissioner  of 
Health  on  forms  satisfactory  to  said  Commissioner.     At  the  close  of  each  season's 

306 


work,  the  city  shall  file  satisfactory  plans  showing  all  additions,  extensions  and 
changes  in  the  water  works  system  made  during  the  year,  together  with  any  other 
information  in  connection  therewith,  that  may  be  required. 

"FOURTH:  That  the  city  shall  not  later  than  December  1st,  1911,  supply  the 
'North  Side'  and  the  'South  Side'  and  the  old  city  proper,  with  filtered  water  and 
fiitered  water  only.  Provided,  however,  that  if  the  Monongahela  Water  Company 
should  not  be  acquired  by  the  city  then,  in  that  event,  the  State  Hoard  of  Ilcult.h 
will  require  the  said  water  company  to  filter  the  water  supplied  to  all  its  consumers. 
And  on  or  before  December  1st,  1911,  the  abandonment  of  tin-  Montrose  and  River 
Avenue  pumping  stations  shall  have  been  accomplished  and  also  the  29th  Street 
Station,  if  this  latter  property  shall  have  been  acquired  by  the  city  in  time  to 
admit  of  the  changes  in  plans  herein  approved  relative  thereto  being  made,  other- 
wise a  reasonable  extension  of  time  will  be  granted  by  the  Commissioner  of  Health. 
It  is  the  intent  of  this  permit  to  bring  about  at  the  earliest  practicable  moment  the 
elimination  from  the  water  works  system  of  all  emergency  and  other  intakes, 
whereby  raw  river  water  may  be  introduced  into  the  distributing  system. 

"FIFTH:  That  since  greater  filter  capacity  than  that  now  possessed,  at  the  Aspin- 
wall  plant  together  with  the  ten  additional  filter  units  is  requisite  to  the  furnishing 
of  the  entire  city  with  filtered  water,  it  is  stipulated  that  tests  of  the  preliminary 
treatment  of  the  Allegheny  River  water  shall  be  conducted  by  the  city  preparatory 
to  the  adoption  of  the  best  treatment,  and  that  prior  to  the  installation  of  any  per- 
manent method,  the  plans  therefor,  together  with  the  tests  showing  the  adapta- 
bility of  the  process,  shall  be  submitted  to  the  Commissioner  of  Health  for  ap- 
proval . 

"SIXTH:  If  at  any  time  it  shall  appear  that  the  water  works  system  or  any 
part  thereof,  or  the  water  supplied  to  the  public  thereby  is  prejudicial  to  public 
health,  then  such  remedial  measures  shall  be  adopted  forthwith  as  the  Commissioner 
of  Health  may  approve  or  advise." 

Ou  March  29th,  1912,  the  city  of  Pittsburgh  submitted  to  the 
State .  Department  of  Health  for  consideration  and  approval,  re- 
ports showing  results  of  tests  conducted  by  the  city  in  carrying  out 
the  1908  decree  of  the  Commission  of  Health,  to  determine  the  most 
efficient  preliminary  treatment  of  the  water  prior  to  filtration  in 
order  to  economically  increase  the  output  of  the  slow  sand  filter 
plant  and  supply  the  entire  city  with  filtered  water  of  a  satisfac- 
tory quality.  At  that  time,  March,  1912,  the  city  had  purchased  the 
Monongahela  Water  Company  plant.  February  1st,  1909,  filtered 
water  was  first  supplied  to  the  "South  Side"  and  since  then  this 
service  has  been  continued;  but  a  part  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
Twentieth  ward  are  still  furnished  as  formerly  with  Ohio  River 
water  drawn  from  the  cribs  and  wells  at  the  Esplen  station  of  the 
Monongahela  Water  Company  and  Wards  38,  42,  13  and  14  are  sup- 
plied as  formerly  by  the  South  Pittsburgh  Water  Company. 

The  city  shut  down  the  River  Avenue  station  in  Allegheny  during 
February,  1908,  and  since  then  all  of  the  water  to  the  "North  Side" 
has  been  pumped  from  the  Allegheny  River  at  the  Montrose  station. 
On  and  after  October  1st,  1908.  all  of  the  water  supplied  to  the 
Peninsula  district  of  Pittsburgh,  has  been  filtered  water.  Prior  to 
October  1st,  1908,  and  beginning  December,  1907,  mixed  raw  and 
filtered  water  was  supplied  to  the  Peninsula. 

Briefly  described,  the  water  works  system,  March,  1912,  comprised 
a  filter  plant  at  Aspinwall  and  the  Ross  pumping  station  there  which 
raises  the  raw  river  water  from  the  Allegheny  to  the  filtration  plant* 
the  gravity  conduits  under  the  river  that  feed  the  filtered  water  to 
the  Brilliant   pumping   station;   the  Brilliant  pumping   station  by 

307 


means  of  which  all  filtered  water  is  delivered  to  the  filtered  water 
district  consisting  of  the  Peninsula  of  Pittsburgh  and  the  "South 
Bide,"  excluding  those  parts  on  the  "South  Side"  furnished  by  the 
Monongahela  Water  Company  and  the  South  Pittsburgh  Water  Com- 
pany as  already  mentioned;  the  Highland  storage  reservoirs,  total 
storage  capacity,  238,000,000  gallons,  into  which  all  filtered  water 
is  primarily  raised  and  from  which  it  is  delivered  to  the  water  dis- 
trict sub-divided  into  low,  high  and  extra  high  service — the  low  ser- 
vice district  being  supplied  from  Highland  Reservoir  No.  2,  the  high 
service  being  supplied  from  Highland  Reservoir  No.  1,  and  the  extra 
high  service  district  being  furnished  with  water  pumped  from  the 
high  service  mains  into  reservoirs  and  tanks  located  at  such  points 
and  elevations  as  to  serve  districts  above  the  reach  of  the  high  ser- 
vice district;  the  un filtered  water  district  consisting  of  the  Twen- 
tieth Ward  on  the  "South  Side,"  supplied  from  the  Esplen  station 
of  the  Monongahela  Water  Company;  and  the  unfiltered  water  dis- 
trict on  the  "North  Side" — Wards  21  to  27  inclusive — supplied  from 
the  Montrose  station  in  O'Hara  Township  opposite  Verona,  nine 
miles  and  a  half  up  stream  from  the  mouth  of  the  Allegheny  River. 
The  Montrose  intake  has  a  timber  crib  which  does  not  prevent  turbid 
water  from  reaching  the  pumps  and  being  supplied  to  the  consum- 
ers in  the  "North  Side."  Since  November  30th,  1911,  chlorinated 
lime  has  been  applied  to  all  of  the  water  pumped  at  this  station. 
The  water  is  delivered  by  the  pumps  into  the  low  service  district  of 
the  "North  Side,"  the  surplus  overflowing  into  the  Troy  Hill  reser- 
voir (7.5  million  gallons  capacity).  From  this  reservoir  water  is 
either  pumped  directly  or  fed  by  gravity  to  the  high  district  pump- 
ing station  and  there  are  also  extra  high  service  districts  supplied 
by  their  own  auxiliary  pumping  stations  and  tanks;  but  the  water 
all  comes  primarily  through  the  Montrose  pumping  station.  One 
of  the  projected  improvements  is  a  large  storage  reservoir  on  the 
"North  Side"  to  be  constructed  on  a  level  with  the  Highland  reser- 
voir. Another  improvement  is  the  erection  of  a  filtered  water  pump- 
ing station  for  the  "North  Side."  The  plans  are  well  along  and 
when  this  station  and  reservoir  are  constructed,  the  Montrose  sta- 
tion will  be  abandoned. 

It  is  thus  seen  that  the  city  has  made  progress  in  fulfilling  the 
conditions  of  the  190S  decree;  but  there  are  further  changes,  exten- 
sions and  improvements  to  be  made  in  the  works  to  supply  water  to 
the  Pittsburgh  district.  The  city  is  expanding  and  the  plans  must 
anticipate  the  future  growth. 

According  to  the  census  of  1910,  the  population  of  Pittsburgh  was 
533,900.  The  daily  water  consumption  is  132,000,000  gallons  equiva- 
lent to  a  per  capita  rate  of  247  gallons.  In  the  following  table  is 
given  the  average  daily  pumpage,  by  months,  of  filtered  water  at  the 
Brilliant  station. 

308  ' 


TABLE  LXXIV. 
Average  Daily  Pumpage  by  Months  of  Filtered  Water  at  Brilliant  Pumping  Station. 

(In  Million  Gallons.) 


January,    

B^ebruary,    

March",    

April,    

May 

June 

July 

August 

September,    ... 

October,     

November 

December 

Averages, 


1009. 

1910. 

im. 

09 

93 

92 

73 

94 

89 

80 

87 

87 

78 

89 

83 

82 

87 

88 

84 

90 

90 

87 

96 

97 

81 

96 

94 

84 

94 

90 

81 

92 

88 

82 

88 

86 

83 

94 

82 

80 

92 

89 

97 
10..' 
•A 
87 
87 
90 
95 
93 
96 
91 
87 


The  average  daily  consumption  on  the  "North  Side"  is  35,000,000 
gallons  and  in  the  Twentieth  Ward  approximately  5,000,000  gallons. 
In  the  following  table  is  given  the  average  daily  consumption  of  fil- 
tered water  and  unfiltered  Avater,  the  population  of  the  respective  dis- 
tricts and  the  per  capita  consumption. 


TABLE  LXXV. 

The  Population  of  Pittsburgh  by  Filtered  and  Unfiltered  Water  Districts,  and  the 
Daily  and  Per  Capita  Consumption  in  said  Districts. 


c. 

a 

a 

3 

*2 

O    . 
0 

~r  a 

JjjO 

va 

Water  District. 

t4~* 

a 

O" 

c  a 

d)  0 

o3 

boa 

P 

£i  5 

2§ 

o 

to 

< 

< 

391,000 

133,030 
10,000 

92,000,000 

35,000.000 
5,000,000 

40,000,000 

132,000,000 

235 

Unfiltered: 

263 

500 

143,000 
534,000 

2S0 

Totals 

247 

. 

The  largest  single  day's  consumption  of  filtered  water  has  been 
113,000,000  gallons  up  to  March,  1912,  and  of  unfiltered  water  about 
45,000,000  gallons,  or  in  round  numbers  158,000,000  gallons  consump- 
tion, equivalent  to  about  20  per  cent,  in  excess  of  the  average  daily 
consumption. 


309 


Iu  estimating  what  the  future  demands  may  be,  all  kinds  of  calcu- 
lations might  be  made  with  some  show  of  reason.  It  is  conservative 
to  assume  thai  the  population  within  the  present  city  limits  will  in- 
crease  fifteen  per  cent,  by  decades  until  about  a  million  people  re- 
side within  these  limits,  and  that  within  this  time  the  population  in 
the  suburbs  will  Increase  twenty  per  cent,  by  decades.  In  the  ten 
mile  zone  next  beyond  the  city  boundaries,  in  the  year  L910,  there 
was  a  population  of  500,000  persons.  Along  the  Allegheny  River  be- 
low Aspinwall  and  then  along  the  Ohio  River  there  are  eighteen  bor- 
oughs and  six  townships  within  the  metropolitan  district,  as  denned 
by  the  Federal  Census  Bureau,  which  might  at  no  great  future  date 
be  furnished  with  water  from  the  Aspinwall  plant.  These  places  are 
as  follows:  Aspinwall,  Sharpsburg,  Etna,  Millvale,  Spring  Garden, 
West  View,  Bellevue,  Avalon,  Emsworth,  Ben  Avon,  Glenfield,  Os- 
borne, Haysville,  Sewickley,  Edgeworth,  Leetsdale,  Coraopolis,  Me- 
Kees  Rocks,  making  eighteen  boroughs  with  a  population  of  70,260; 
and  Sbaler,  Reserve,  Kilbuck,  Aleppo,  Neville,  and  Stowe  Townships, 
making  six  townships  with  a  population  of  14,180;  or  a  total  for  this 
district  of  84,440  people. 

In  the  lower  valley  of  Chartiers  Creek,  along  the  south  side  of 
Pittsburgh  territory,  and  the  banks  of  the  Monongahela,  there  is 
a  chain  of  boroughs  and  townships,  largely  supplied  by  the  South 
Pittsburgh  Water  Company,  that  may  in  the  future  be  furnished  with 
Allegheny  River  Water  from  Aspinwall.  These  places  are  as  fol- 
lows: Ingram,  Crafton,  Greentree,  Thornburg,  Carnegie.  Heidelberg, 
Dormont,  Carrick,  St.  Clair,  Mt.  Oliver,  Knoxville,  Hays,  Homestead, 
and  West  Homestead,  Munhall,  and  Whitaker,  making  sixteen  bor- 
oughs with  a  population  of  72,830;  and  Chartiers,  Scott,  Union,  and 
Baldwin  townships,  making  four  townships  with  a  population  of 
20.000 ;  or  a  total  population  for  this  district  of  93,430  people. 

East  of  Pittsburgh  and  along  the  lower  Turtle  Creek  valley,  there 
is  a  chain  of  municipalities  furnished  with  water  by  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Water  Company.  These  places  are  in  the  metropolitan  dis- 
trict. They  are  as  follows:  Pitcairn,  Trafford  City,  Wall,  East  Mc- 
Keesport.  Wilmerding,  Turtle  Creek,  East  Pittsburgh,  North  Brad- 
dock,  Braddock,  Rankin,  Swissvale,  Edgewood  and  Wilkinsburg, 
making  thirteen  boroughs  with  a  population  of  93,500  people;  and 
Braddock,  Wilkins,  Penn,  Patton,  and  North  Versailles  townships, 
making  five  townships,  with  a  population  of  9,540  people;  or  a  total 
population  for  this  district  of  103,040  people. 

Around  McKeesport  there  is  a  district  that  may  some  time  be  sup- 
plied with  water  from  the  Aspinwall  plant.  The  towns  are  as  fol- 
lows: the  city  of  McKeesport,  population  43,000;  the  boroughs  of 
Duquesne,  Versailles,  Port  Vue,  Glassport,     Dravosburg,   Clairton, 


310 


Wilson,  Elizabeth,  West  Elizabeth,  making  nine  boroughs  with  a 
population  of  34,240;  and  the  township  of  South  Versailles,  popula- 
tion 420;  a  total  population  in  the  district  of  77,000  persons. 

TABLE  LXXVI. 
Summary  of  Population  in  Suburbs  Outside  of  Pittsburgh. 


Boroughs. 

Townships. 

Suburban  Districts. 

o 

p 

i 

a 

X5 

a 

3 

1 

e 

a 

Ph 

y. 

to 

River  District,    

S.    Pittsburgh    Dist., 
E.  Pittsburgh  Dist., 
McKeesport  Dist.,    .. 

Totals 


18 

70, 260 

6 

16 

72,830 

4 

13 

S3, 500 

6 

10 

77,240 

1 
17 

57 

313,830 

11.1 > 

20,600 

9.640 

420 


44,740 


So  we  see  that  in  the  suburbs  around  Pittsburgh  there  are  fifty- 
seven  boroughs,  including  the  city  of  McKeesport  as  a  borough,  hav- 
ing a  total  population  of  313,830,  and  seventeen  townships  having  a 
total  population  of  44,740.  In  other  words,  there  are  seventy -four 
distinct  civil  government  districts  in  these  suburbs  haviug  an  ag- 
gregate population  of  358,570  people.  In  Table  LXXVII  is  given 
this  aggregate  population  by  main  sub-districts  and  the  public  water 
consumption  in  each  in  gallons  daily. 

TABLE  LXXVII. 

Suburban  Populations  and  Daily  Water  Consumption. 


J* 

M 

3 

a 

o 

g< 

Suburban   Districts. 

C3 

c 

C 

o 

>  — 

171 

River   District,    

S.  Pittsburgh  Dist., 
E.  Pittsburgh  Dist., 
McKeesport   Dist.,    .. 

Totals 


S4.440 
93,430 
103,040 
77,660 


S, 400,000 

9. 500. 000 

13.S0O,000 

6,300,000 


35S.570        3S, 000, 000 


As  stated  before,  within  ten  miles  of  the  city  boundaries,  in  1910, 
there  was  a  population  of  509,000  people.  It  is  more  conservative 
for  our  present  purpose  in  discussing  a  metropolitan  water  works 
system  of  the  future,  to  take  the  359,000  basis  of  population  residing 


311 


in  the  outlying  districts,  as  shown  in  Table  LXXVTI,  than  the  509,000 

basis.    According  to  the  Federal  census,  in  the  metropolitan  district 

of  Pittsburgh,  which  is  taken  to  extend  beyond  Allegheny  County, 

there  is  a  population  of  1,042,000  people.    Even  on  the  basis  of  a 

population  of  359,000  in  the  outside  water  districts  enumerated,  and 

figuring  (in  the  basis  of  growth  of  lifteeu  per  cent,  for  the  central  city 

and    twenty    per  cent,  for  these  outside  districts,   the  figures  will 

run  high.     The  following  table  gives  the  increase  in  population  by 

decades  on  this  conservative  basis  of  growth,  and  it  is  illustrated  in 

Diagram  C. 

TABLE  LXXVIII. 

Future  Population  Estimated  for  Pittsburgh  and   Seventy-four  Adjacent  Civil   Dis- 
tricts Comprising  What  is  Considered  to  be  a  Probable  Future 
Metropolitan   Water  District. 


Population  In    Metropolitan 

Water  District. 

- 

a 

c 

o 

o 

S3 

tf 

V 

¥>  ■ 

•a  m 

3  1 

o3  a> 

in  Decades. 

u 

*j 

■w  a 

o 

r"0 

3  X 
o  u 

>> 

a. 
o 
u 

%4 

9  8 

1=3 

1910, 
1920, 
1930, 
1910, 
1950, 


534.000 

359,000 

614.000 

431,000 

706,000 

517,000 

812,000 

620.000 

934,000 

744,000 

893,000 
1,045,000 
1,223,000 
1.432,000 
1 .  r.T.s.CtlHl 


If  the  Federal  Metropolitan  District  were  taken  to  be  the  future 
water  district,  then  the  growth  in  population  might  be  as  follows: 


m 

a 

>> 

>} 

09 

w 

♦* 

4_, 

3 

fU 

o 

1910, 

19y>, 
1930, 
1940, 
1950, 


534,000 

509,000 

614,000 

611,000 

706,000 

733,000 

812,000 

S80.000 

934,000 

1.056,000 

1,013,000 
1,225,000 
1,439,000 
1.692,000 

1, ::'.«.,  m> 


The  population  of  359,000  persons  living  in  the  seventy-four  civil 
districts  adjacent  to  Pittsburgh  now  uses  38,000,000  gallons  of  public 
water  daily,  which  is  about  100  gallons  per  captita;  but  as  this  popu- 
lation increases  the  consumption  rate  will  increase. 


312 


DIAGRAM    C 


ESTIMATED  POPULATION  IN  THE  METROPOLITAN  DISTRICT 
OF  PITTSBURGH  FOR  40  YEARS  BASED  ON  A  CONSERVATIVE 
GROWTH  OF  15 PERCENT  INCREASE  IN  URBAN  AND  ZO 
PERCENT  INCREASE  IN  SUBURBAN  DISTRICTS  EACH  DECADE 

2.0 
A* 
A  8 
A  7 
A  6 
AS 
A  4 
A3 
A  2 
/./ 
AO 

UWBA 

N  93  A, OOO 

1 

* 

I 

SUBUR 

SAN  l,OS%OOo/ 

/URBAN  6/Z,< 

IOO 

'SUBURBAN  3& 

X  ooo 

/urban  706,* 
SUBURBAN  73 

OO 

^^JRBAN  6IA, 
~ SUBURBAN  (of 

OOO 
I  OOO 

^turban  S3*. 

^  SUBURBAN  & 

ooo 
J^OOO 

/?/0                       /?£0                     /<?Jtf                     /?*0                    /ISO 

YE4/r> 

DIAGRAM      D 


ESTIMATED     DAILY  CONSUMPT/ON    OF  WATER   IN  M/LLION 
GALLONS    FOR   ENTIRE    METROPOLITAN  DISTRICT  OF 
PITTSBURG.  FDR  DIFFERENT  CONDITIONS  THAT  MAY  OBTAIN 
DURING     N£XT    40  YEARS. 


At  present  in  Pittsburgh  the  per  capita  consumption  is  250  gal- 
lons in  round  numbers.  If  meters  were  universally  installed,  this 
rate  would  be  reduced,  let  us  say,  to  150  gallons  per  capita  daily. 
Table  LXXIX  shows  the  estimated  daily  consumption  h\  million  gal- 
lons for  the  future.  In  the  first  column  are  the  periods  by  decades. 
In  the  second  column  are  the  estimated  daily  consumptions  for  the 
present  city  limits,  on  the  basis  that  the  per  capita  rate  will  continue 
to  be  250  gallons  daily.  In  the  third  column  the  daily  consumptions 
are  given  for  the  metropolitan  area  outside  of  the  city,  on  the  basis 
that  in  1920  and  thereafter  all  of  the  people  there  will  be  supiplied 
with  public  water  at  a  rate  of  150  gallons  per  capita.  The  fourth 
column  gives  the  total  daily  consumption  of  the  entire  water  district, 
comprising  the  present  city  limits  and  the  outlying  territory,  and 
hence  it  is  the  sum  of  the  items  in  the  other  two  columns  for  the  re- 
spective decades.  This  column  of  totals  is  taken  to  represent  the 
mean  consumption  for  the  future  water  district,  that  is,  it  is  not 
the  maximum  that  can  happen,  neither  is  it  the  minimum.  The 
fifth  column  gives  the  estimated  minimum  total  consumption  for  the 
future  water  district.  The  figures  are  based  on  the  assumption  that 
meters  will  be  universally  installed  and  that  the  daily  per  capita 
consumption  by  1930  and  thereafter  for  the  entire  metropolitan  dis- 
trict will  be  150  gallons.  And  the  last  column  gives  the  maximum 
consumption.  It  is  based  on  the  assumption  that  meters  will  not  be 
installed,  and  that,  in  consequence,  the  great  waste  of  water  now  go- 
ing oh  will  continue  and  that  by  1930  and  thereafter  all  of  the  people 
in  the  metropolitan  district  will  be  using  water  at  the  daily  per 
capital  rate  of  250  gallons.  Diagram  D  graphically  illustrates  the 
table. 

TABLE  LXXIX. 

Estimated  Daily  Water  Consumption  in  Million  Gallons  for  a  Future  Water  Dis- 
trict Comprising  Part  of  the  Federal  Pittsburgh  Metropolitan  Territory  and  for 
One  Comprising  All  of  said  Metropolitan  Territory. 


>> 

^ 

Total  Consumption  Under 

o 

O 
oi    . 

Stated  Conditions. 

,  ^ 

Period 

in  Decades. 

0 
P. 

Ol  CO 
03  o 

a!  m 

s  ° 

ft  a 

O  3 

•S-3 

o 

lis 

o  P- 

O 

m  a 

2*3 

a      5 

5  a 

g.  to 

g.g 
%  ^ 

fQ-wg 

t=3 

£  OS  S 

nssibl 
tion 
mete 
mum 

£ 

o 

" 

Tart'   '. 

M^t'opolitan   Area. 

1910,    .. 

134 

38 

17° 

1920,     

154 

167 

.    303 

65 
78 
93 

219     

1930 

245 
296 

1S4 
215 

306 

1940 

358 

1950,    

234 

112 

346 

93.9 

1 

Entire   Fed 

eval  Metropolitan  Area. 

1910,    .. 

134 
154 

167 

38 
92 

110 

172 
246 

277 

216 

1920 

1930 

360 

1940 

203 
234 

132 
15S 

335 
392 

254 
294 

423 

1950 

498 

313 


Based  .in  these  estimates,  if  meters  were  introduced  and  the  partial 
metropolitan  district  were  supplied  by  the  city,  in  1030  the  daily 
consumption  would  be  L84,000,000  gallons  and  by  L950  the  daily  con- 
sumption would  be  252,000,000  gallons;  while  if  the  city  neglects 
universally  to  install  meters  the  consumption  may  be  between  346,- 
000,000  gallons  and  120,000,000  gallons  by  the  year  1050.  Tf  the 
city  supplies  the  entire  Federal  metropolitan  district,  by  1030.  the 
mean  daily  consumption  may  be  277,000,000  gallons,  the  minimum 
216,000,000  gallons  and  the  maximum  360,000,000  gallons,  and  by 
L950  the  mean  daily  consumption  may  be  392,000,000  gallons,  the  min- 
imum 298,000,000  gallons  and  the  maximum  498,000,000  gallons.  It 
is  noi  beyond  the  range  of  probability  that  the  city  of  Pittsburgh  may 
be  supplying  the  public  with  350,000,000  gallons  of  water  forty 
years  hence. 


(<■) — Typhoid  Fever  in  Pittsburgh  before  and  after  Water  Filtra- 
tion. 

In  March,  1012,  the  ten  additional  filter  units,  approved  in  1008, 
were  built  but  not  put  in  operation.  During  1007,  and  pirior  to  that 
time,  raw  Allegheny  Tvivor  water  was  supplied  to  Pittsburgh.  On 
December  10th,  of  1907,  some  tillered  water  was  pumped  into  the 
Highland  reservoirs.  The  volume  of  filtered  water  so  pumped  was 
constantly  increased  during  the  year  1008,  until  on  October  3rd  of 
1908,  all  of  the  water  supplied  to  the  Peninsula  districts  of  Pitts- 
burgh was  filtered;  since,  filtered  water  only  has  been  furnished  to 
this  Peninsula  district. 

The  "South  Side"  continued  to  receive  raw  Monongahela  River 
water  until  February  4th,  1000,  when  filtered  water  was  introduced 
there  from  the  Highland  reservoir — excluding  of  course  the  wards 
furnished  by  the  South  Pittsburgh  Water  Company  that  has  a  fil- 
tered supply  of  its  own,  and  the  Twentieth  Ward,  supplied  from  Es- 
plen  with  raw  water  by  the  Monongahela  Water  Company.  We  will 
first  take  up  the  existence  of  typhoid  in  the  Peninsula  district  and 
then  in  the  "South  Side." 

In  Table  LXXX  is  given  the  record  of  typhoid  fever  cases  in 
Peninsula  Pittsburgh  by  years  since  180G.  It  includes  that  portion 
of  the  city  which  is  supplied  by  the  Pennsylvania  Water  Company. 
The  population  in  the  company's  district  was  24,000  in  1010,  an  in- 
crease of  ID. (MH>  in  ten  years.  The  population  in  the  remaining  por- 
tion of  the  Peninsula  District  was  270,000  in  1010,  an  increase  of  33,- 
(100  iu  ten  years:  so  that  in  the  entire  Peninsula  District  in  1010,  the 
population  was  204,000. 

314 


TABLE  LXXX. 

City  Record  of  Typhoid  Fever  Cases  in  Peninsula  Pittsburgh,  1896— 1912,  inclusive. 


6   ■ 

or 

o 

fe 

-2 

c  £ 

cj 

^ 

fs.J 

>>  s 

o  ? 

O 

c 

1S96, 
.1897, 
1S98, 
1S99, 
1900, 
1901. 
1B02, 
1903, 
1904, 
1903, 
190C, 
1907, 
1908, 
1909, 
1910, 
1911, 
1912, 


¥& 

16 

608 

2 

l-,40< 

15 

1,352 

9 

2,374 

50 

2,433 

36 

2,41,3 

39 

2,&23 

73 

2,51-7 

82 

2,375 

140 

4,646 

286 

3,962 

54 

1,059 

24 

292 

34 

274 

21 

187 

7 

128 

15 

961 

910 

1,421 

1,361 

2,421 

2,4.,9 

2,502 

2,698 

2,609 

2,515 

4,932 

4,016 

1,033 

326 

295 

194 

143 


It  will  be  noted  that  in  the  Pennsylvania  Water  Company  district 
of  the  Peninsula,  the  number  of  typhoid  cases  was  relatively  smaller. 
Up  to  July,  1910,  as  previously  stated,  the  supply  came  from  the 
Allegheny  River  and  Avas  drawn  through  a  crib  and  to  the  fact  that 
considerable  purification  was  effected  at  the  cribs  the  smaller  num- 
ber of  typhoid  cases  has  been  attributed.  The  increase  in  typhoid 
cases  noted  in  the  table  during  1905-1906,  was  thought  to  be  due  to 
an  accident  to  the  cribs  which  materially  reduced  their  efficiency. 
Since  July,  1910,  the  company  has  operated  a  mechanical  filter  plant 
and  this  accounts  for  the  lower  rates  in  1911-12. 

In  Table  LXXX  I  are  given  the  typhoid  fever  cases  by  months  in 
the  Peninsula  district  excluding  the  Thirteenth  Ward  and  it  is  offered 
to  show  how  the  typhoid  dropped  off  as  the  efficiency  of  the  Aspinwall 
filter  plant  inci eased.  Three  filters  were  put  into  commission  at 
Aspinwall  during  December  of  1907,  and  during  January,  1908,  seven 
additional  filter  units  were  put  into  commission,  eight  others  in 
March,  six  in  April  and  three  in  May;  and  during  July,  1908,  thirty- 
nine  filter  units  were  operated  and  on  October  3rd,  1908,  all  of  the 
water  supplied  to  the  peninsula  was  filtered  and  has  since  been  fil- 
tered. In  the  following  table  it  will  be  shown  that,  beginning  with 
the  first  of  the  year,  1908,  when  a  small  volume  of  filtered  water 
mingled  with  a  large  volume  of  unfiltered  water  that  was  furnished 
to  the  consumers  of  the  city  district  of  the  Peninsula,  the  proportion 
of  filtered  water  to  the  raw  water  increased  as  the  months  went  by  and 
correspondingly  typhoid  fever  cases  fell  off. 


315 


TABLE  LXXXI. 

Typhoid  Fever  Cases  in  Peninsula  Pittsburgh  by  Months  1907-1912,  inclusive. 
(Excluding  the  Thirteenth  Ward,  the  Pennsylvania  Water  Company  Area.) 


Mi. ml). 


January,  .. 
February,  . 
Marco 

April 

May 

Juiif 

July 

August 

September, 
c.  tober.    ... 
Nn\  ember, 
December, 

Totals, 


1907. 

1908. 

1909. 

1910. 

1911. 

537 

340 

26 

15 

18 

271 

141 

23 

19 

12 

135 

71 

26 

21 

7 

LC9 

si 

lfi 

17 

12 

292 

64 

26 

17 

12 

152 

63 

14 

16 

16 

300 

62 

— 

23 

15 

375 

SI 

26 

35 

28 

17 

36 

40 

23 

349 

16 

28 

26 

15 

•111 

27 

32 

23 

14 

413 

36 

IS 

22 

15 

3,9132 

1,059 

292 

274 

187 

1912. 


In  Table  LXXXII  the  occurrence  of  typhoid  fever  in  that  part  of 
Pittsburgh  called  the  ''South  Side"  is  given  for  the  years  1890  to  1912, 
inclusive. 

In  the  first  column  appear  the  cases  in  the  territory  formerly  sup- 
plied Avilli  raw  water  from  the  Monongahela  River  by  the  Monongahela 
Water  Company.  This  includes  Wards  24  and  30  inclusive.  These 
works  were  purchased  by  the  city  and  since  February  4,  1909,  filtered 
water  has  been  supplied  to  the  people  in  this  district.  It  will  be 
noted  that  typhoid  diminished  very  materially  in  this  territory  dur- 
inr  1909  and  the  years  which  have  followed  since  filtered  water  has 
been  furnished.  The  population  in  this  section  of  South  Pittsburgh 
in  1910,  was  SO, 000.  being  an  increase  of  14,000  in  ten  years. 

Tn  the  second  column  appear  the  cases  in  the  Thirty -ninth  and 
Fortieth  Wards  (old  classification),  the  territory  supplied  with  water 
from  wells  and  the  Ohio  River  at  the  Esplen  works  of  the  Mononga- 
hela Water  Company.  The  population  in  this  section  of  South  Pitts- 
burgh  in  1910,  was  9,000,  being  an  increase  of  about  3,000  in  ten 
years. 

In  the  third  column  appear  the  cases  in  Wards  38,  42,  43  and  44 
(formerly  Beltzhoover,  Montooth,  Sheradan,  and  West  Liberty  bor- 
oughs)  supplied  with  filtered  water  by  the  South  Pittsburgh  Water 
Company  since  July  1.4,  1906.  Prior  to  that  the  source  was  raw  river 
water  drawn  from  the  Monongahela  at  Peck's  Pun.  Tt  will 
be  noted  that  typhoid  has  not  dropped  off  much  since  the 
filtering  of  this  supply  as  shown  by  the  table.  The  population  in 
this  section  of  South  Pittsburgh  in  1910,  was  17,000,  being  an  increase 
of  about  8,000  in  ten  years. 

In  the  last  column  are  given  the  total  cases  by  years  for  the  en- 
tire South  Side  of  Pittsburgh  and  the  decline  in  typhoid  for  the  last 
three  years  is  apparent.- In  the  "South  Side"  the  total  population  in 
1!;lu  \v,is  106,000  persons,  an  increase  of  about  20,000  in  ten  years. 


31G 


TABLE  LXXXII. 

Typhoid  Fever  Oases  in  South   Side  District. 


■a'S'g, 
3  « 

5  i  i  •'- 

V 

S3 

Year. 

is3 

&    40. 

Wells 
(Esplei 

Motion 

42.    43 
ibs     an 
filters. 
U      Co. 

= 

o 

I88* 

ards    39 
Intake. 

triet, 
Wat  or  C< 

*1         OB  '"" 

"E  .£  i  5  •- 

a  5  "S  S  i 

P 

* 

H 

1890, 
1891, 
1S92, 
1S93, 
1894, 
1895, 
1S96, 
1897, 
1S98, 
1S99, 
1900, 
1901, 
1902, 
1903, 
1904, 
1905, 
1906, 
1907, 
1908, 
1909, 
1910, 
1911, 
1912, 


'281 
217 
248 
342 

183 
254 
255 
366 

356 
638 
498 
685 
426 
506 
311 

7 

50 
26 
31 
28 
31 
10 

236 

15 

18 

412 

36 

19 

361 

27 

24 

208 

29 

31 

78 

17 

32 

54 

10 

34 

43 

8 

26 

53 

12 

11 

281 
217 
248 
342 
1*3 
254 
Z>5 
366 
363 
688 
524 
710 
45'; 
5-37 
3-1 
269 
467 
412 
268 
127 
98 
76 
76 


In  Allegheny  City  (annexed  to  Pittsburgh  in  1908)  typhoid  fever 
eases  were  not  recorded,  or  at  least  the  records  are  not  available  for 
cases  until  1908,  although  the  deaths  have  been  recorded  for  many 
years.  The  population  in  Allegheny  City,  now  "North  Side"  of  Pitts- 
burgh, in  1910  was  132,000,  being  an  increase  of  about  2,000 
in  ten  years.  In  Table  LXXXIII  are  given  the  deaths  and  apipronii- 
niate  number  of  cases  in  Allegheny  City  prior  to  annexation,  and 
the  death  rates  for  each  100,000  population  for  Allegheny  City  and 
for  Pittsburgh  prior  to  annexation,  and  the  cases  and  deaths  in  the 
"North  Side"  after  annexation. 


21 


317 


TABLE  LXXXIII. 
Allegheny  City  Typhoid   Fever,   1900 — 1912,   inclusive. 


Death  Rate  la 
each  100.000. 


Hi  tore   Annexation. 

1900 

i:»i 

1902 

1903 

19m 

1905 

1906 

1907,    

After  Annexation,   as  "North  Side." 

190S ; 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 


726 

121 

93.1 

815 

130 

103.6 

S94 

149 

114.2 

940 

124 

94.9 

1.000 

166 

125.8 

1,090 

182 

139.0 

1,120 

19S 

151.0 

850 

143 

108.8 

147.2 
124.0 
111.1 
137.3 
140.5 
109.1 
143.6 
132.  J 


363 

60 

297 

41 

428 

C3 

367 

63 

108 

13 

In  Table  LXXXTV  is  given  a  summary  of  typhoid  fever  cases  in 
the  city  of  Pittsburgh  before  and  after  filtration  of  the  public  water 
supply.  In  1908  some  water  was  filtered  at  Aspinwall  and  in  1009 
all  of  the  water  was  filtered  with  the  exceptions  hereinbefore  noted. 
The  table  is  graphically  illustrated  by  Diagram  E. 


TABLE  LXXXIV. 

Summary  of  Typhoid  Fever  Cases  in  the  City  of  Pittsburgh,   1900 — 1912,   inclusive. 


>> 

a 

*j 

HI 

6D 

*J 

a 

S 

■g 

-3 

< 

Year. 

V 

>> 

•a 

■a 

'3 

a 

w 

K 

□ 

§ 

J 

■"" 

□ 

3 
o 

O 

C< 

- 

H 

2,424 

2,469 

2.502 

2,696 

2,609 

2,515 

4,932 

4,016 

1.0S3 

325 

295 

194 

143 

524 
716 
456 
537 
321 
269 
467 
ttfl 
268 
127 
9S 
76 
76 

726 

815 

894 

940 

1,000 

1,090 

1,120 

850 

363 

297 

428 

367 

108 

3,674 

1901            

4,000 

1902                    

3,852 

1903     

4,173 

3,930 

3.874 

6,519 

1907     .             

6,278 

1,714 

749 

821 

637 

327 

318 


DIAGRAM     E 


CHART  OF  TYPHOID  FEVER  CASES  IN 
PITT55URGH-ALL  OF  PRESENT  MUNICIPAL 
TERRITORY- FOR  THE  PAST  THIRTEEN  YEARS 

7000 
fcooo 

5000 
4©oo 

3000 

£000 

/ooo 
0 

5 
1 
1 

« — 

-U/\ 

F/L.1 

'£■/?£, 

QW/ 

Tt?D. 

TEff. 

ro  n 

ATE! 

?-+ 

rcrf' 

r/l\ 

1 

/WO   1901   I90Z  19C3  !9o4  1906    1906  I907  /908  1909  f9fO    19(1    19/Z 

YEARS 

The  redaction  in  typhoid  fever  accompanying  the  introduction  of 
filtered  water  throughout  the  city  is  shown  graphically  in  the  accom- 
panying Diagram  E. 

In  Tahle  LXXXV  are  given  the  typhoid  fever  cases  summarized  for 
the  filtered  water  district  within  the  city  of  Pittsburgh  limits,  in- 
cluding the  cribs  as  filters.  In  the  first  column  the  cases  are  shown 
in  the  Pennsylvania  Water  Company  district;  in  the  second  column 
the  cases  for  the  South  Pittsburgh  Water  Company  district;  in  the 
third  column  the  cases  for  the  City  Water  District  in  the  Peninsula 
after  all  the  water  was  filtered;  and  in  the  fourth  column  the  cases 
in  the  South  Side  in  the  City  Water  District  after  all  the  water  was 
filtered;  and  in  the  fifth  column  are  given  the  total  typihoid  fever 
cases  in  the  entire  filtered  water  areas  for  the  years  1900  to  1912 
inclusive;  and  in  the  last  column  the  rate  for  each  100,000  of  popu- 
lation. It  will  be  noted  that  in  1900,  the  total  population  in  the  fil- 
tered water  districts  was  13,400  only,  and  that  that  year  there  were 
seventy-six  cases  of  typhoid  fever  among  the  consumers  and  entire 
population  residing  in  these  areas  which  gave  a  rate  of  567  cases 
to  100,000  of  population.  Furthermore,  it  will  be  noted  that  in  1910, 
the  total  population  in  the  filtered  water  districts  was  391,000  and 
that  year  there  were  only  383  cases  of  typhoid  fever  among  this  big 
population  which  gave  a  rate  of  ninety-eight  cases  to  100,000  of  popu- 
lation. The  next  year  the  rate  came  down  to  sixty-seven  cases  for 
the  filtered  water  districts  and  for  the  year  1912,  the  rate  was  fifty- 
one,  estimating  the  population  in  these  districts  to  be  403,000  persons. 


TABLE  LXXXV. 

Summary  of  Typhoid  Fever  Cases  in  the  Filtered  Water  Districts  Within  the  Limits 
of  Pittsburgh,  1900—1912,  inclusive. 


•°.2 

16 


go 


1900 

1901 

1902 

1903 , 

1904 , 

1905 

1906 

1907 

190S,     

1909 

1910,      

1911 

1912 

Populations 

1900 

1910,     


50 

36  crib. 

39  crib. 

73  crib. 

82  crib. 
140  crib. 
2S6  crib. 

54  crib. 

24  crib. 

34  crib. 

21  filter. 
7  filter. 

15  filter. 


26  crib. 
31  crib. 
2S  crib. 
31  crib. 

10  crib. 

18  crib. 

19  filter. 

24  filter. 
31  filter. 

33  filter. 

34  filter. 

25  filter. 

11  filter. 


5,000 
24.000 


8,400 
17,000 


292  filter. 
274  filter. 
1S7  filter. 
12S  filter. 


237,000 
270,000 


7S  filter. 
54  filter. 
13  filter. 
53  filter. 


66.000 
SO, 000 


76 
67 
67 

104 
92 
158 
S0T. 
7S 
55 
436 
S<3 
86S 
207 


316,400 
391,000 


319 


In  Table  LXXXVI  there  is  given  a  summary  of  typhoid  fever  cases 
in  the  raw  water  districts  wiihin  the  limits  of  Pittsburgh.  In  the 
first  column  the  cases  are  given  for  the  city  water  district  in  the 
Peninsula  from  1900  to  L908  inclusive.  After  that  this  district  was 
furnished  with  altered  water.  In  the  second  column  the  cases  are 
given  for  thai  portion  of  the  south  side  supplied  by  the  Monongahela 
Water  Company  from  the  tipper  intake,  for  the  years  1900  to  190S 
inclusive.  Then  the  city  bought  the  works  and  thereafter  filtered 
water  was  supplied  to  this  district.  In  the  third  column  the  typhoid 
fever  eases  are  given  for  the  Esplen  District  on  the  South  Side;  in 
the  fourth  column  the  typhoid  cases  as  near  as  they  can  be  obtained 
for  the  "North  Side''  are  given;  and  in  the  fifth  column  the  total 
typhoid  fever  cases  occurring  in  the  raw  water  districts  are  given 
for  the  years  1900  to  1912  inclusive;  and  in  the  last  column  the  rate 
for  100.000  population:  It  will  be  noted  that  in  1900  the  total  popu- 
lation in  the  raw  water  districts  was  439.000,  and  that  that  year 
there  were  3.59S  cases  of  typhoid  fever  in  these  districts  which  gave  a 
rate  of  819  cases  in  100,000.  Furthermore,  it  will  be  noted  that  in 
1910  the  population  receiving  raw  river  water  was  141,000.  Probably 
143,000  is  nearer  the  actual  number  of  persons  receiving  raw  water 
then,  and  on  this  basis,  and  that  of  438  cases  among  such  persons 
there  was  a  rate  of  306  cases  in  100,000  population.  The  next  year 
the  rate  came  down  to  2G2  cases  for  the  raw  water  districts  and  for 
the  year  1912,  the  rate  was  85  cases. 

TABLE  LXXXVI. 

Summary  of  Tvpboid  Fever  Cases  in  the  Raw  Water  Districts  Within  the  Limits 
of  Pittsburgh,   1900—1912,   inclusive. 


Year. 


South  Skip.  Monon- 
gahela Water  Co. 


1000 I  2,374 

1901 2,433 

lrtuj,      I  2,403 

1903 '  2,623 

1904 2,527 

1905 2,375 

1906 4,646 

1907 ;  3,962 

1908 1,059 

1909 !  Filter,  . . 

]910      '  Filter,  .. 

1911 Kilter,  .. 

1912 '  Kilter,  . . 

Approximate    Populations. 

1900 • 

1910 


Filter, 
Filter, 
filter, 
Filter, 


498 
685 
426 
506 
811 
236 
412 
861 
208 


722 

815 

894 

940 

1.000 

1,090 

1.120 

850 

363 

297 

428 

367 

108 


3,598 

3,933 

8,783 

4,069 

3.S3S 

3,716 

6,214 

5,200 

1,659 

314 

438 

375 

120 


30G 
262 
85 


237.000 
270,000 

66,000 
SO, 000 

6,000 
9,000 

130,000 
132,000 

439,000 
491.000 


320 


TABLE  LXXXV1I. 


Showing  Pittsburgh's  Rank   Among  Cities  of  the  United   States  in   Typhoid  Fever 
Death  Itate  per  100,000  Population  for  the  Year  1911. 

(By  Pittsburgh  Water  Bureau.) 


City. 


DO 

a 

A 

o 

>. 

Cm 

•     H 

A  tlanta,     

Pittsburgh, t     

Baltimore,     

New    Orleans 

Buffalo 

Indianapolis,     

Louisville,      

Toledo 

Washington 

Milwaukee, 

Denver 

Richmond 

Detroit 

San   Francisco 

St.    Louis 

Albany 

Cleveland 

Philadelphia 

Los   Angeles,    

Minneapolis,     

Cincinnati,     

Columbus,     

New   York, 

Chicago 

Pittsburgh,*    

St.    Paul 

Boston 

*Filtered   Water    District.       fBaw    Water    District. 


160,000 

90 

135,000 

66 

564.545 

154 

373,000 

106 

435,315 

108 

240,000 

63 

241,254 

58 

172,899 

39 

354,000 

74 

385,500 

77 

213.281 

39 

129,291 

23 

465,766 

79 

416,912 

67 

687,029 

109 

100,859 

16 

580,000 

85 

1,580,000 

223 

310.198 

43 

302,362 

36 

37S.72S 

43 

188,357 

21 

4,9S3,385 

545 

2,244,835 

243 

410,000 

41 

230,000 

23 

688.500 

63 

56.3 
48.9 
27.:; 
25.7 
24.8 
21.3 
24.1 
22.3 
20.5 
2O.0 
18.3 
17.8 
17.0 
16.1 
15.9 
15.8 
14.7 
14.1 
13.9 
11.9 
11.1 
11.1 
10.9 
10.8 
10.0 
9.0 


In  the  preceding  table  showing  typhoid  death  rates  for  the  big 
cities  in  the  United.  States  as  prepared  by  the  Water  Bureau,  Pitts- 
burgh filtered  water  territory  is  taken  at  a  population  of  410,000 
among  whom  there  were  forty-one  deaths  in  the  year  1911,  giving  a 
death  rate  of  ten  for  100,000  population,  the  third  lowest  rate  of  any 
city  shown  in  the  table;  while  the  raw  water  district  of  Pittsburgh 
is  taken  at  a  population  of  135,000  among  whom  there  were  sixty-six 
typhoid  deaths  for  the  year  1911,  giving  a  rate  of  48.9,  or  next  to 
the  highest  typhoid  death  rate  shown  in  the  table.  In  the  following 
Table  LXXXVIT,  dealing  with  typhoid  fever  deaths  in  the  city  of 
Pittsburgh  including  the  city  of  Allegheny  before  it  was  annexed 
to  Pittsburgh,  it  will  appear  that  in  the  year  1911  the  city  of  Pitts- 
burgh contained  512,000  persons,  among  whom  there  were  107  deaths 
from  typhoid  fever,  giving  a  death  rate  of  19.7  for  100,000  popula- 
tion, which  would  place  Pittsburgh  seventeenth  in  line  from  the 
city  having  the  lowest  typhoid  death  rate  for  the  year  1911. 


321 


In  Table  LXXXVIII  the  first  column  shows  the  typhoid  fever 
deaths  from  the  year  1000  to  1007  inclusive.  Allegheny  City  and 
Pittsburgh  City  were  made  one  municipality  in  1007  and  beginning 
1008,  the  typhoid  fever  deaths  were  all  reported  as  Pittsburgh 
deaths.  The  Allegheny  Citj  deaths  Tor  the  years  1906  and  1907  were 
obtained  from  the  Bureau  of  Vital  Statistics  of  the  State  Deport- 
ment of  Health.  Prior  to  that  time  they  are  Allegheny  City  records. 
Column  two  gives  the  typhoid  lever  deaths  for  the  city  of  Pittsburgh 
up  to  and  including  1  !»(>,")  as  reported  by  the  Federal  authorities.  But 
after  that  they  are  taken  from  the  records  of  the  Bureau  of  Vital 
Statistics  of  the  State  Department  of  Health,  and  this  holds  true  for 
the  third  column.  The  fourth  column  of  total  population  is  made 
up  as  follows:  In  1900,  Allegheny  City  had  a  population  of  130,000 
and  Pittsburgh  322,000,  hence  the  total  was  452,000.  The  1910 
census  showed  those  wards  of  Pittsburgh  comprising  Allegheny  City 
territory  prior  to  annexation  to  have  a  population  of  132,000  and  the 
rest  of  Pittsburgh  402,000,  making  a  total  of  534,000  persons  for  Pitts- 
burgh that  year.  It  is  assumed  that  this  increase  of  2,000  persons 
in  ten  years  for  the  Allegheny  City  territory  was  equally  distributed — 
200  increase  each  year — and  it  is  further  assumed  that 
for  1911,  the  population  was  132,500  and  for  1912,  133,000.  It  is 
assumed  that  the  80,000  increase  in  population  in  the  remaining 
portion  of  Pittsburgh  excluding  Allegheny  City  territory  was  dis- 
tributed as  follows:  by  the  annexation  of  Elliott  borough  in  1905, 
3,000;  by  the  annexation  of  Esplen  borough  and  Sterrett  Township 
in  1006,  3,000;  by  the  annexation  of  Montooth  and  Sheraden  boroughs 
in  1907,  3,000;  and  by  the  annexation  of  West  Liberty  borough  in 
1908,  1,000,  making  10,000  increased  population  by  these  annexations, 
and  leaving  70,000  to  be  distributed  over  the  other  territory  at  the 
rate  of  7,000  per  annum.  Therefore,  the  column  of  total  population 
is  the  sum  of  these  additions  of  these  respective  estimates  for  each 
year  in  the  decade  and  this  rate  of  increase  is  applied  to  the  years 
1911  and  1912. 


322 


TABLE  LXXXVIII. 

Typhoid  Fever  Deaths  in  the  City  of  Pittsburgh  Including  the  City  of  Allegheny 
Before  It  was  Annexed  to  Pittsburgh,  HMO — 1012,  inclusive. 


M>0 

3  a 


P 

© 

« 

P 

o 

A 

FN 

0 

H 

695 

,     452,000 

.a:\ 

450,000 

r, :3 

465,000 

595 

474,CMX> 

658 

4S1 , 000 

575 

491,000 

728 

500,000 

645 

511,000 

255 

520,000 

130 

527,000 

I1ii 

534,000 

107 

542,000 

72 

549.000 

1900, 
1901, 
1902, 
1903, 
1904, 
1905, 
1906, 
1907, 
1908, 
1909, 
1910, 
1911, 
1912, 


121 
135 
149 
124 
166 
182 
198 
143 
Annexed, 


474 
408 
474 
471 
492 
393 
530 
502 
Consolidated, 


131.6 
118.4 
188.7 

125.5 
186 
117.1 
145.6 
126.2 
49.0 
24.6 
21.7 
19.7 
13.1 


Typhoid  fever  cases  in  the  city  of  Pittsburgh  territory  have  been 
reduced  85.4  per  cent,  on  the  following  basis — There  were  for  the 
four  years  prior  to  putting  the  Aspinwall  filter  plant  in  full  opera- 
tion (1905  to  1908  inclusive),  17,385  cases,  and  there  were 
for  the  four  succeeding  years  (1909  to  1912  inclusive),  2,537  cases 
which  gives  a  reduction  of  85.-1  per  cent,  in  typhoid  cases. 

Typhoid  fever  deaths  in  the  city  of  Pittsburgh  territory  have  been 
reduced  80.7  per  cent,  on  the  following  basis — There  were  for  the 
four  years  prior  to  putting  the  Aspinwall  filter  plant  in  full  opera- 
tion (1905  to  1908  inclusive),  2,206  typhoid  deaths,  and  there  were  for 
the  four  succeeding  years  (1909  to  1912  inclusive)  425  deaths,  which 
gives  a  reduction  of  80.7  per  cent,  in  typhoid  deaths. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  typhoid  fever  cases  dropped  off  in  the 
"North  Side"  when  the  disease  began  to  decline  in  Pittsburgh.  Over 
half  of  the  citizens  of  Allegheny  or  the  "North  Side"  are  employed 
in  Pittsburgh.  Some  of  this  decline  in  Allegheny  was  undoubted  due 
to  the  closing  down  of  the  River  Avenue  pumping  station  at  the 
beginning  of  1908,  and  the  substitution  of  a  less  polluted  Allegheny 
River  water  drawn  from  the  river  at  Montrose.  There  has  been  a 
second  decline  in  typhoid  cases  on  the  "North  Side."  It  dates  from 
the  beginning  of  the  treatment  of  the  Montrose  Station  water  with 
a  germicide.  The  chlorinated  lime  treatment  was  begun  November 
20th,  1911.  In  the  following  table  are  given  the  cases  for  the  last 
four  months  prior  to  this  treatment  and  for  the  months  following 
this  treatment  to  the  end  of  the  year  1912.  There  were  129  cases 
during  the  four  months  prior  to  treatment  and  but  67  cases  for 
the  four  month  period  following  the  treatment. 


328 


TABLE  LXXXIX. 

Typhoid  Fever  Cases  in  Allegheny  (North  Side)  Before  and  After  Germicidal  Treat- 
ment of  the  Kaw  Allegheny  River  Water  Supplied  to  the  District  from  Montrose 
Pumping  Station 


Month. 


1911. 

August 

September,  

October 

November 

December,     

1912. 

January 

February,      

March 

April 

May 

.Tune 

July 

August 

September 

October 

November 

December 


The  raw  water  supplied  to  the  Esplen  District  ('population  9,000) 
contains  sewage  organisms  all  the  time.  It  is  remarkable  that  there 
were  only  eight  cases  of  typhoid  fever  in  this  district  during  1011 
and  twelve  cases  for  the  year  1912.  The  results  of  bacteriological 
examinations  of  water  drawn  from  taps  in  this  district  are  given  in 
the  following  table  for  the  period  of  one  year.  The  tests  were  made 
at  the  A  spin  wall  laboratory. 

TABLE  XC. 

Bacteriological  Analyses  of  Water  Drawn  from  Taps  in  the  Esplen  District. 


Date. 


1911. 
Marcb 

April 

May 

.Mine 

July 

August,     

September 

October 

November 

mber 

1912. 

January 

February 


Average 
Bacteria    per  Cubic 
Centimeter. 


£\7.n 

25.4G7 

12.346 

14.1% 

8,467 

13,623 

5,238 

4,864 

18,r,62 

10.850 


2S.373 
6,113 


B.  Coll. 


3.9 
11.0 
1.2 
S.«) 
19.4 
64.0 
49.0 
31.0 
10.2 
15.  S 


21.0 
12.4 


324 


(d) — Quality  of  Allegheny  I'hxr  Water  at  Ross  Pumping  Station. 

Daily  bacteriological  examinations  are  made  by  the  city  Water 
Bureau  of  the  raw  river  water,  the  settled  water,  and  the  filtered 
water  at  the  Aspinwall  plant.  Sewage  organisms  are  always  present 
in  the  until tered  waters  except  when  the  river  is  acid.  Sometimes 
for  over  twelve  days  the  raw  water  will  contain  over  100  B.  Coli  to 
the  cubic  centimeter.  In  Table  XCI  are  given  averages  of  these  daily 
examinations  of  the  raw  and  settled  waters  by  months  for  the  years 
1910  to  1912. 


TABLE  XCI. 

Average  Daily  Bacterial  Analyses  of  the  Allegheny  River  Water — Raw  and  Settled- 
at  the  Aspinwall  Filter  Plant  for  each  Month,  by  the  City  Laboratory. 


In  One  c.   c.   Raw  River  Water. 

January,     

February 

March,     , 

April 

May 

June,     

July,     

August 

September,    

October 

November,     

December , 

In  One  c.   c.   Settled  River  Water 

January,     

February 

March,     

April 

May,    

June,     

July 

August,    

September,      

October,      

November 

December,    


3910. 

1911. 

1912 

Total. 

B.  Coli. 

Total. 

B.  Coli. 

Total. 

14,472 

25 

16,774 

31 

38,897 

8,245 

22 

10,393 

11 

9,707 

7,185 

30 

21,148 

22 

26,089 

205,233 

40 

22,638 

23 

11.107 

204,867 

28 

71,203 

19 

16,219 

47,190 

30 

61,117 

36 

62,237 

10,631 

41 

8.750 

28 

21,103 

11.806 

52 

18,940 

21 

24,256 

14,405 

53 

16,847 

70 

28,583 

67,333 

29 

13,517 

56 

52,813 

26,990 

46 

15,655 

46 

12,317 

33,694 

4S 

9,852 

48 

14,460 

21,125 

18 

14,168 

21 

17,554 

8,550 

13 

16,975 

8 

12,413 

8,574 

18 

94.222 

6 

15,588 

103, 673 

35 

51,146 

19 

9,404 

109,200 

21 

92,042 

24 

16,827 

32,673 

26 

29,646 

31 

46,576 

6,978 

34 

6,519 

23 

15,265 

9,785 

39 

16,296 

44 

24,274 

10,443 

37 

11,412 

63 

21,150 

50,152 

IS 

11.404 

61 

74,981 

50,196 

30 

40,196 

24 

35,842 

78,365 

43 

17,020 

30 

21,477 

B.  Coli 


It  appears  from  this  table  that  there  is  little  or  no  difference  in 
the  bacterial  quality  of  the  raw  river  water  compared  with  the  settled 
water.  With  the  exception  of  a  few  days  of  the  year  when  the  river 
water  carries  heavy  sediment,  sedimentation  has  proven  of  little 
value  to  the  operation  of  the  slow  sand  filters. 

The  turbidities  of  the  Allegheny  River  water  are  affected  largely 
at  Aspinwall  by  the  distribution  of  the  rainfall  on  the  Allegheny 
Basin.  Those  of  February  27th,  1912,  were  greater  by  fifty  per  cent, 
than  any  pervious  average  daily  river  turbidity  since  the  Aspinwall 
filter  plant  was  started.  A  sample  collected  during  the  forenoon  of 
that  day  showed  a  turbidity  of  3,900  parts  in  a  million  which  was  the 
highest  observed  at  Aspinwall.  In  Table  XCII  the  average  daily 
turbidities  for  the  year  1912  are  given. 


325 


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328 


The  character  of  the  Allegheny  River  water  as  shown  by  the  tur- 
bidity standard  has  for  convenience  been  divided  into  three  classes. 
The  first  class  is  highly  turbid — greater  than  120  parts  in  a  million; 
the  second  class  is  a  moderately  turbid  water  of  from  25  to  120  parts 
in  a  million;  and  the  third  class  is  a  slightly  turbid  water  of  less 
than  25  parts  in  a  million.  The  water  varies  frequently  in  its  ap- 
parent color,  dependent  upon  the  character  and  amount  of  suspended 
solids.  When  the  water  is  more  or  less  polluted  the  colors  are  vari- 
ous shades  of  brown,  yellowish  brown  or  gray.  When  the  water  is 
clear  it  has  a  greenish  tinge  which  may  be  due  to  acid  or  alkali. 

Just  below  Aspinwall  is  the  dam  in  the  river,  already  described, 
which  back  floods  water  to  the  dam  at  Springdale.  The  latter  forms 
a  pool  extending  up  stream  to  the  mouth  of  the  Kiskiminetas  River. 
The  extensive  coal  mining  operations  in  the  basin  of  the  Kiskimine- 
tas, detailed  above,  determine  the  quality  of  the  waters  of  this 
stream.  The  mine  wastes  introduce  the  various  sulphur  compounds, 
which  when  coming  in  contact  with  the  alkaline  waters  of  the  Al- 
legheny River  promote  coagulation  and  sedimentation.  These 
changes  occur  all  along  the  river  below  the  Kiskiminetas  and  they 
give  a  mottled  appearance  to  the  Allegheny.  Even  when  the  water 
is  quite  clear  (green)  there  may  be  seen  floating  in  this  clear  or  mod- 
erately turbid  water  masses  approaching  the  color  of  iron  rust,  some- 
times several  feet  in  diameter,  or  perhaps  appearing  in  streaks. 
Four  or  five  classes  of  water  may  be  moving  together  and  the  shift- 
ing of  these  causes  the  sudden  changes  in  the  character  of  the  raw 
water  at  the  Ross  fetation. 

Special  studies  of  these  phenomena  by  experts  were  made  in  follow- 
ing out  the  decree  of  the  Commissioner  of  Health  that  experiments 
should  be  undertaken  to  determine  how  best  to  pretreat  the  raw  river 
water.  These  studies  occupied  a  considerable  period  of  time  and  were 
carried  out  by  sanitary  engineers  employed  by  the  city  of  Pittsburgh. 
Reports  were  made  at  intervals  as  the  work  went  on. 

Regarding  the  color  and  the  iron  content  of  the  water  of  the  Alle- 
gheny River  the  city's  experts  have  the  following  to  say: — 

"The  true  color  of  the  Allegheny  water  is  seldom  sufficiently  high  to  cause  com- 
ment. It  would  seem  unwise  to  install  any  apparatus  or  process  with  sole  purpose 
of  further  decreasing  the  color  which  is  usually  present.  The  fact  is  that  a  com- 
parison of  the  monthly  totals  shows  that  the  sand  filters  do  actually  cause  a  certain 
decrease,  unaided  by  chemical  application.  However,  a  drinking  water  with  true 
color  as  low  as  shown  in  the  table  leaves  little  basis  for  criticism  in  that  direction. 
Probably  the  true  color  of  the  river  water  will  not  increase  in  future  years. 
Originally  there  was  a  considerable  amount  of  timber  on  the  slopes.  This  is  being 
rapidly  cut  away  and  new  growths  are  not  being  encouraged.  The  watershed  is 
not  used  to  any  considerable  extent  for  farming,  and  there  is  little  or  no  swampy, 
peety  land.  It  is  hardly  to  be  expected,  therefore,  that  the  true  color  of  the  river 
water  will  materially  increase  in  the  future. 


329 


"Except  during  periods  of  high  water,  the  total  iron  content  of  the  river  water 
is  seldom  in  excess  of  two  parts  per  million.  Dissolved  iron  is  practically  entirely 
absent  from  the  river  water.  Periods  of  high  iron  content  have  never  been  periods 
of  anxiety  in  the  operations  at  Aspinwall.  The  iron  at  such  time  seemed  to  aid  iu 
the  settlement  of  the  mud  which  invariably  accompanied  it.  Periods  of  lower  iron 
coutent,  however,  frequently  caused  very  rapid  clogging  and  short  runs  between 
cleanings.  At  such  times,  the  iron  undoubtedly  reaches  the  filters  in  a  state  of 
colloidal  suspension.  Contact  with  the  sand  surface  cause  a  true  Suspension, 
forming  a  thin,  dense  coating  which  is  almost  impermeable  under  the  working  bead 
of  a  slow  sand  filter.  The  settlement  in  the  sedimentation  basins  removed  about 
one  half  of  the  total  iron,  and  the  filters  removed  practically  all  that  was  left.  The 
ability  of  the  filters  to  remove  the  iron  is  much  more  marked  during  the  warm 
weather  than  during  the  cold.  This  is  brought  about  by  the  fact  that  the  sand 
surface  is  in  condition  to  retain  the  finer  particles  during  the  summer.  The  iron 
content  of  the  filtered  water  is  never  of  sufficient  magnitude  to  excite  criticism." 


In  Table  XCIV  is  given  a  summary  of  tests  of  highly  turbid  Alle- 
gheny River  water  showing  the  duration  in  days  of  this  high  tur- 
bidity, and  the  turbidity,  iron,  and  alkalinity  in  parts  in  a  million 
when  the  water  was  yellowish  brown  in  apparent  color  and  light 
grayish  in  apparent  color.  The  observations  extended  over  a  period 
of  about  twelve  months. 


TABLE  XCIV. 
HIGHLY  TURBID  ALLEGHENY  RIVER  WATER. 

Results  of  Turbidity,  Iron,  and  Alkalinity  Determinations  of  Such  Water  at  City 
Laboratory,  Compiled  for  the  State  Department  of  Health. 


u 

Parts  in  a  Million. 

S3 

, 

Sf 

a  m 

Date  of  Sample. 

OQ 
I* 

>, 

£ 

•a 

a 

3* 

g 

o 

& 

Q 

* 

< 

Yellowish  Brown  in  Apparent  Color. 

1910. 
December    30 

1911. 

January     14 

January  28,    

April    7 

September    15 

September    30 

Light   Grayish   in   Apparent   Color. 

1911. 

August    30 

September    7, 


170 
W 

140 
742 
160 


218 


7.3 
6.4 
7.0 
32.0 
4.0 


14.1 
10.9 


330 


The  medium  turbid  water  lasts  for  longer  periods  than  a  highly 
turbid  water.  In  Table  XCV  is  given  a  summary  of  determinations 
of  medium  turbid  Allegheny  River  water  showing  the  duration  in 
days  of  this  medium  turbidity,  and  the  range  in  turbidity,  iron  and 
alkalinity  in  parts  in  a  million  when  the  water  was  yellowish  brown, 
grayish,  and  dark  brown  in  apparent  color. 


TABLE  XCV. 
MEDIUM  TURBID  ALLEGHENY  RIVER  WATER. 

Results  of  Turbidity,  Iron,  and  Alkalinity  Determinations  of  Such  Water  at  City 
Laboratory,  Compiled  for  the  State  Department  of  Health. 


Parts  in.  a  Million. 

a  • 

as 

•a  os 

so 

Date  of  Sample. 

a 

gs 

t>> 

t-> 

cs 

■a 

a 

.Q 

□ 

a 

3+J 

M 

fi 

H 

M 

■< 

Yellowish  Brown  in  Apparent  Color 

1910. 

October    1 

November    4 

December  23 

1911. 

January    1 

February   1,    

March  12 

April  8 

May  10 

June    11 

July  10 

August  4,    , 

September    IS,     

Grayish   in   Apparent   Color. 
1911. 

May   4,     

June  4 

August    28,     

September  3 

Dark    Brown    in    Apparent    Color. 
1911. 

June    30 

August    13 


11 

23  to  38 

1.7  to  2.0 

12  to  26 

26 

33  to  64 

1.7  to  2.4 

20  to  25 

7 

32 

1.6 

26 

22 

35  to  92 

2.1. to  6.1 

11  to  16 

30 

42  to  52 

2.0  to  2.3 

12  to  13 

?,a 

49 

2.0 

14 

?& 

51 

1.8 

13 

4 

61 

1.4 

19 

1?, 

34  to  71 

1.3  to  1.6 

16  to  23 

3 

4S 

1.7 

23 

7 

59 

1.9 

28 

7 

40  to  55 

1.3  to  2.5 

11 

4 

40 

1.6 

18 

5 

51 

1.0 

14 

2 

94 

2.3 

21 

8 

53 

2.1 

13 

?. 

23 

1.1 

19 

15 

23  to  35 

1.5  to  2.1 

27  to  34 

When  the  Allegheny  River  water  is  slightly  turbid  at  Aspinwall  it 
is  greenish  in  color  and  when  this  greenish  tinge  is  very  light  in  ap- 
parent color,  the  water  will  be  found  to  be  acid  or  nearly  so.  Dur- 
ing the  series  of  tests  made  by  experts  in  the  employ  of  Pittsburgh 


331 


to  determine  the  best  manner  of  pretreating  the  raw  river  water  in 
carrying  out  the  decree  of  the  Commissioner  of  Health,  special  studies 
were  made  of  the  slightly  fcnrbid  waters.  In  Table  XCVI  which  fol- 
lows, the  results  of  turbidity,  iron,  and  alkalinity  determinations  of 
slightly  turbid  Allegheny  River  waters  made  by  these  experts  are 
given. 

TABLE  XCVI. 

SLIGHTLY  TURBID  ALLEGHENY  RIVER  WATER. 

Results  of  Turbidity,  Iron,  and  Alkalinity  Determinations  of  Such  Water  at  City 
Laboratory,  Compiled  for  the  State  Department  of  Health. 


Pate  of  Sample. 


S3 


c3  •a 
S3 
R 


Parts  in  a  Million 


Greenish  in   Apparent  Color,   and   Alkaline, 

1910. 

October 

November,     

Peeember 

1911. 

January,      

February,     

March,      

May 

June i 

July 

Angust 

September 


Light   Greenish    in    Apparent   Color,    and    Acid    or 
Nearly   So. 


June, 
July, 


14  to  21 

18 

16 


21 

11 

15 

20 

1G 

11  to  16 

22 

15  to  22 


1.2 
1.3 
1.4 


1.7 

1.1 

1.2 

1.0 

0.9  to  1.4 

0.9 

1.3 

0.9  to  1.1 


9  to    32 
22 
24 


14 
16 
14 

18  to    ^ 
12  to    ?6 
12  to    24 
22 
9  to    12 


0.3 
0.3 


+3  to  -4 


Before  the  dams  were  built  at  Aspinwall  and  Springdale,  the  aver- 
age turbidity  was  fifty,  the  alkalinity  thirty-four  and  the  iron  0.75. 
In  the  following  Table  XCVII,  is  given  a  summary  of  the  days  when 
different  classes  of  Allegheny  River  water  appeared  at  Aspinwall, 
and  the  average  turbidity,  iron,  and  alkalinity  of  these  classes  of  wa- 
ters for  twelve  months,  October,  1010,  to  September,  1911,  inclusive. 
The  Aspinwall  dam  was  completed  so  that  the  samples  represent 
water  collected  from  the  pool  in  the  river  mnde  by  the  dam.  It  will 
be  observed  from  the  table,  tllat  the  average  turbidity  of  the  river 
water  for  these  365  days  was  fifty,  the  iron  2.4,  and  the  alkalinity 
was  eighteen  parts  in  a  million.  There  we're  four  days  when  the 
river  was  acid,  and  less  than  twenty-five  days  when  the  turbidity 


332 


was  over  fifty.  So  it  appears  that  comparing  the  waters  of  the  river 
before  the  dams  were  built  and  after  the  dams  were  built,  the 
suspended  matters  remain  the  same;  but  there  has  been  an  increase 
of  over  two  hundred  per  cent,  in  iron  and  a  decrease  of  about  fifty 
per  cent,  in  alkalinity,  due  to  the  large  amount  of  acid  iron  waste 
discharged  into  the  Allegheny  River  by  the  Kiskiminetas. 


TABLE  XCVII. 

Summary  of  Days  When  Different  Classes  of  Allegheny  River  Water  Appeared  at 
Aspinwall,  and  the  Average  Turbidity,  Iron,  and  Alkalinity  of  these  Classes  of 
Waters  for  Twelve  Months — October,  1910  to  September  1911,  inclusive. 


a 

c 

a, 

03 

>1 

a 

'£• 

a 

•a 

a 

Class  of  Water  by  Appearance. 

£ 

<s 

s 

o 

h 

a 

CJ 

o 

CJ 

M 

M 

in 

XS    . 

a 

ci 

B9 

<v 

£ 

Z, 

< 

^ 

<i 

Highly  Turbid: 
Yellowish    Brown, 
Light    Brown 

Medium   Turbid: 
Yellowish    Brown, 
Light    Grayish,     . . . 
Dark    Brown 

Slightly  Turbid: 
Greenish    Alkaline, 
Greenish  Acid 

Mean   for   365   days, 


14 

303 

15.4 

S 

234 

12.5 

181 

47 

2.1 

19 

50 

1.7 

17 

26 

1.8 

122 

17 

1.1 

4 

9 

0.3 

50 

2.4 

10 

11 

15 
15 

30 

22 
—1 


Mottled  water,  which  is  medium  or  slightly  turbid,  occurred  in 
the  Allegheny  River  at  Aspinwall  on  twenty-nine  days  during  the 
year  of  observation  from  October,  1910,  to  September,  1911,  inclusive. 
In  Table  XCVIII  the  days  on  which  this  mottled  water  occurred,  and 
the  turbidity,  iron,  and  alkalinity  are  given : 


TABLE  XCVIII. 
Mottled  Allegheny  River  Water  at  Aspinwall. 


00 

Parts  in  a  Million. 

c3 

a 

Date  1911. 

£ 

o 

a 

>> 

lj 

<a 

a 

a 

x> 

a 

d 

3 

o 

C 

** 

< 

March    6,     ... 

March  9,  ... 
April  15,  ... 
April  23,  ... 
September  9, 


1 

17 

2.0 

5 

25 

1.7 

7 

34 

1.6 

11 

35 

1.4 

° 

40 

l.S 

22 


333 


Mineral  analyses  of  the  Allegheny  River  water  at  Aspinwall  dur- 
ing the  year  1910  were  made  at  intervals  when  there  were  unusual 
conditions.  During  January  the  highest  turbidity  of  the  year  oc- 
curred.  In  February  when  the  river  was  frozen  the  water  was  re- 
markably clear.  The  firsl  of  March  there  was  a  freshet;  a  few  days 
later  the  turbidity  was  about  LOO;  the  last  of  March  the  turbidity 
fluctuated  remarkably  in  an  interval  of  two  hours;  in  April  the  river 
water  contained  ferrous  iron;  in  the  middle  of  May  the  water  was 
Light  green  followed  by  a  Mack  water;  in  July  the  water  was  very 
green;  in  August  the  river  was  normal;  and  in  September  the  mini- 
mum alkalinity  was  recorded.  A  sample  of  each  one  of  these  eleven 
different  kinds  of  waters  was  collected  and  chemically  analyzed.  The 
results  are  given  in  Table  XCIX. 


334 


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335 


The  Allegheny  River  water  at  AspinwaU  is  tending  towards  an 
acid  condition.  The  alkalinity  is  decreasing  owing  to  the  method  of 
disposal  of  coal  mine  wastes  on  the  Allegheny  Basin.  It  was  appar- 
ent to  the  State  Department  of  Health  in  1008.  when  the  Commis- 
sioner of  Health  issued  the  decree  previously  quoted,  that  the  time 
was  not  far  distant  when  the  eity  would  be  forced  to  apply  chemi- 
cals to  the  waters  of  the  Allegheny  River  to  neutralize  the  acidity 
in  connection  with  the  filtration  of  the  public  water  supply  and  to 
assist  in  preliminarily  clarifying  the  water.  In  Table  C  the  monthly 
average  total  hardness,  and  alkalinity  of  the  Allegheny  River  water 
at  AspinwaU  are  given  to  show  this  tendency  towards  an  acid  con- 
dition. 


336 


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337 


A  low  stage  of  the  river  is  accompanied  by  increased  alkalinity 
and  total  hardness  owiug  to  lack  of  dilution,  or  would  be  accom- 
panied by  such  increase  in  alkalinity  were  it  not  for  the  mine  drainage. 
It  is  true,  however,  that  a  high  river  stage  is  accompanied  by  low 
alkalinities  and  by  low  total  hardness. 

In  Diagram  F  it  is  shown  how  the  hardness  of  the  Allegheny  River 
water  at  Aupinwall  would  be  reduced  if  storage  reservoirs  were  built 
on  the  Allegheny  basin  to  maintain  a  minimum  How  about  four  times 
the  present  minimum  flow  of  the  river. 

During  most  of  the  year  1912,  daily  samples  of  the  Allegheny  River 
water  were  combined  to  form  weekly  composite  samples  which  were 
then  analyzed  to  determine  the  mineral  constituents.  The  results 
of  these  analyses  for  the  months  of  February,  March  and  April  are 
given  in  Table  CI,  and  for  the  later  months  in  two  subsequent  tables. 

The  month  of  January  was  severely  cold  and  this  period  extended 
to  February  14th.  The  precipitation  of  February  was  far  below  the 
normal,  and  the  river  stage  was  low  at  Aspinwall  from  February  1st 
to  February  20th.  During  March  the  precipitation  was  considerably 
above  the  normal.  On  March  22nd,  it  reached  the  highest  stage  of 
the  year.  From  March  15  to  April  11,  the  river  was  at  high  stage. 
During  April,  the  precipitation  was  above  the  normal. 


DIAGRAM     F 

HARDNESS    OF  ALLEGHENY  RIVER    WATER  AT    A5P/NWALL 

1909 

DATA  FROM  FLOOD  COMMISSION  REPORT 

It 13  rcxrvar  projects  in  Allegheny  basin  were-  constructed,  and  ha  If- fall  of  the.  beginning 
of  a  summer  similar  to  1909,  there  could  be  maintained  constantly  4000  second-feet 
flow  eaoal  to  4  times  minimum  for  the  137 days  between  July  and  Dec./909,eavtvalenf  fo 
reduction  of  '26 parts  per  million  in  hardness  for  the  137  days 


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scococoooo-r- 


>  «i>  CM  ©  rH  CO  CTl  CO  r>-         <rt<  C 


^iiMOONMTfOl*Hl(;HClNOC5l 


10Hfta«Nl>M       CM  ec 

^Co'cOrHT^id-*LC5rH-^05  0CO'<# 
H  rH         rH  HiN         rl-* 


5  Cfc  CO  CJi  lO  OO  rH  oq        oocM 

rH         rH  rH  CM         rH  CO 


H  O  N  N  t-  C  «  H  w        cn  CO 

(dCNHnHHlfi'MMHrttOOHOJ 
!>  CM  "*  rH  iM         t-H  CM-*         CC  ■<* 


lOOCst-MWMOfO         NH 

H^Mf5HrHOCO^NMrH©dc05Tf  < 

CO  rH  — *  rHrH  MOT         Wlfl 


llftCOHHOinMH'NH^OOC.' 


sas 

mam 

a  CO  CD 


339 


In  the  following  tabular  statement  data  are  given  relative  to  the 
riwr  stage  in  the  pool  at  Aspinwall.  The  pool  level  is  24.5.  It  will 
be  observed  thai  the  river  water  stage  was  low  all  through  February 
until  the  20th.  Match  was  a  wet  month  and  the  high  stage  con- 
tinued throughout  April. 


1912. 


February, 
Mm  rill,  .. 
April.     ... 


1st. 

2C.4 
2S.6 
32.0 

5th. 

10th. 

15th. 

20th. 

22d. 

25  th. 

27th. 

26.2 
27.0 

32.0 

26.0 
27.1 
30.5 

25.8 
28.6 
28.6 

26.2 
31.5 
28.2 

27.8 
36.6 

27.0 
31.5 
27.5 

33.8 

30th. 


•28.6 
33.0 
?9.0 


•February   29th. 


340 


a 

a 

o 
O 

0) 


d 

& 

CO 


m     3  a; 

O     hfi 

«    3 


M 


<3. 


S25 


in  O  iO  O  TO  -t<  d  '£>  »rt  Oi  CI  tH  rH  lO  O  1. 
E£  Ift  ,-H  W  L-  C  i         .-H  »H  -V 


T-t  cor-  CI  OJlftMOCl        Oi  IC 

53     3 


£~£ 


O  CO  t—  CMT-i  WW         HW 

;©c 

CO  eg  i-H  C<)         tH  HvJ         WtO 


20th 
to 
26th. 

CM 
cg<M                            iHtH                Hilt.         HO 

■a 

^ 

™°1 

MOinH               CO         i-l               HIO                o 

J  O  r-l  M        t-  fj 


.  I 


ftNON(C^(CtOM         rid 
rH 

L- 

w  o  it:  d  (^  N  *  r-'  M  t-  CO  S  C  O  o  ff.  CO 

cor-^ddHHcowccwd©^doo^ 

(j3|>«tDU5HHdNCOMOOONe:|^C5 


341 


The  precipitation  in  May  was  Ear  below  normal  and  also  in  June, 
■with  tin.'  exception  of  the  16th,  when  there  was  a  rainfall  of  3.19 
inches  in  24  hours,  followed  by  a  sudden  rise  in  the  river  which 
dropped  oil  quickly.  From  May  29th  to  June  16th,  there  was  a  long 
period  of  l«>w  Water  in  the  river  at  Aspinwall  and  from  June  21st  to 
July  li>th.  The  remaining  days  in  July  were  wet.  During  this 
period  the  precipitation  was  6.61  inches  which  nearly  approached 
the  maximum  record  for  the  entire  month.  The  pool  level  at  Aspin- 
wall was  24.5.  In  the  following  tabulation  arc  given  data  concerning 
the  river  stages  here  for  May,  June  and  July. 


May. 
J  u  iii- 
July, 


1st. 

30.0 
26.2 

25.5 

5th. 

10th. 

loth. 

17  th. 

19th. 

20th. 

25th. 

28.0 
26.2 
25.4 

27.5 
25.6 

27.5 
25.6 

"29!4 

28.6 

2S.2 
26.2 
27.2 

26.7 
26.6 
28.8 

30th. 


26.0 
20.6 
26.3 


312 


V  % 

XX 

a 

r^ 

-1 

S 

SK 

tj 

M  -, 

a> 

Pi 
to 

P4 


« 


CO  OS  C  I  r-U-  <*j  OV  00  "1*         Ol 

M^cii^-fJai'riio-f'-r'-t'O^ii-; 

rp  t"  ^1  «  H  <-l         ^l  rHCl 


g£S 


OS  -ti  -rfi  'X>  "*  'J  CI  iO  CO        0\. 


C-l  CO  CO  <T1  «i  CI  OHW         CO  C  I 

Mcoe»o>Nr-if4«oio8tieoooQgj©5gt 


-*  COt-  -1*  CI  CO  CI  CD  -f        WH 
3  O  O  CI  ^H  i-i  ^1*  -r  I  -  CI  O  CO  CO  O  CO  ■ 


c 

13S 

26  • 
112 

13.6 
2.6 
2,1 
2.2 

16.6 
3.6 

IS.O 
3.1 
1.6 

11 

39.6 
0.15 

17 

47 

5°§ 

eft  "^  (fl 

150  . 

16 
134 

10.3 
2.7 
1.0 
0.9 

21.9 
4.9 

17.9 
3.1 
0.9 

17 

69.4 
0.35- 

17 

57 

Joa 

t-         OO  CD  CD  CM  CO  CD  CD         H^- 
Olfi^CMCOOrHCnCOOOCli-lCligO^g 

.a  o5 
1 

158 
21 

137 
39.2 
13.2 

4.4 

3.1 
13.3 

3.6 
12.5 

2.2 

0.5 

9 
28.9 

0.26 
15 
46 

3  -*  O  O  go  CO  -*  I 


^t-^Or-rr^w 


-<  O  iC  CO  O  *#  CO 


sc^ 


HHMM^HH^CCCJMOCHCOft 


jdOHHCO^CKDO^CC^COJ 


It-  t- 


t-I  t-H  HID  t- 


o""  o 


—     -a   .,S 


o  o  .£  ^  a  oj 


Hhfc.KHfc<cSZt^o3:S<!B 


343 


During  August,  the  precipitation  was  below  normal.  For  Septem- 
ber and  October,  it  was  slightly  above  normal.  From  August  1st  to 
August  20th,  was  the  longest  period  of  low  water.  On  the  27th,  the 
river  stage  at  Aspinwall  was  2!>.2  and  on  the  30th,  27.8.  The  pool 
level  is  24.5.  On  September  4th,  the  stage  was  33.7.  In  the  following 
tabular  statement  are  given  data  relative  to  the  river  stages  for  these 
three  months: 


1912. 


August,  . . 
September, 
October,     . 


1st. 

4th. 

5th. 

10th. 

l.'ti.. 

20th. 

26th. 

26.0 

2S.2 
26.6 

33.7 

26.8 
30.0 
26.6 

25.5 
27.1 
25.8 

26.0 

26.0 
26.0 

26.6 
26.2 
25.8 

26.4 
27.2 
29.0 

27th. 


27.8 
26.7 
27.9 


With  respect  to  the  odor  of  the  raw  Allegheny  River  water,  the 
analyst  of  rhe  Aspinwall  filtration  plant  has  the  following  to  say: 

"As  might  well  be  expected  from  an  inland  stream  which  is  practically  a  large 
open  sewer,  the  river  water  always  has  an  appreciable  odor.  Beside  the  sewagic 
odor,  there  is  also  frequently  an  oily  odor,  caused  by  the  presence  of  crude  oil  from 
the  oil  refineries  and  oil  wells.  The  reported  odors  of  oil  are  not  a  satisfactory 
index  of  the  quantities  of  oil  and  paraffin  in  the  river  water.  During  many  days 
when  the  oil  odor  is  not  found,  the  river  and  settling  basins  give  visible  evidence 
of  the  presence  of  very  considerable  quantities  of  oil,  evidently  in  a  somewhat 
de  odorized  condition." 

In  Table  CIV  the  variations  in  the  odor  of  raw  Allegheny  River 
water  at  Aspinwall  for  every  day  in  the  year  1912  are  summarized. 


344 


-M 

n   ^ 
8  a 


« 


MHio:i<rtC> 


•as 


-H9HO        O 


"U3 


HmfO-i'O      ooi-i      oo 


lOOOO        OriO 


HMtjiOOO        OOO        OO 


S  C~  ^  O        HHO        Hrl 


O^IMIOOO        MHO 


<N<MWP3 


H  OO  H  CR  tO 


a  :         :  "    S  :        a  ; 
"3  -^  :  .    *  "■■££&  ' 


345 


Iii  Table  CV,  which  follows,  the  organic  constituents  of  the  river 
water  are  shown.  Most  of  the  time  the  water  has  a  musty  odor. 
During  the  warmer  months  the  earthy  and  vegetable  odors  are  notice- 
able. 

With  respect  to  dissolved  oxygen,  the  Aspinwall  analyst  has  the 
following  to  say: 

••While  there  are  m>  days  on  which  there  is  no  dissolved  oxygen  in  the  river  water, 
yet  a  careful  comparison  with  results  of  previous  years  develops  the  fact  the  time 
is  not  far  distant  when  there  will  be  no  dissolved  oxygen  in  the  river  water  during 
long  periods  of  the  year.  During  June,  July,  August  and  September,  the  quantity 
is  already  quite  low.  In  other  words,  unless  steps  are  taken  to  prevent  the  dump- 
ing  of  crude  sewage  into  the  river  above  Aspinwall,  the  quality  of  the  water  will 
soon  be  such  as  to  add  to  the  difficulties  of  treatment,  in  order  to  meet  the  sanitary 
requirements  for  a  potable  water  above  suspicion .  Settlements  on  the  Allegheny 
watershed  above  Aspinwall  are  developing  rapidly,  while  there  is  little  visible 
evidence  of  improvement  in  sewage  treatment  in  these  settlements.  While  the 
titration  plant  seems  to  have  performed  its  function  fully  up  to  the  requirements 
of  the  most  exacting  critics,  yet  at  times  there  seems  to  be  a  great  lack  of  consis- 
tency in  the  prosecution  of  sanitary  requirements  along  the  watershed.  While 
a  water  purification  plant  should  be  required  to  furnish  a  satisfactory  quality  of 
potable  water,  yet  the  ordinary  requirements  of  civilization  should  protect  a  water 
supply  from  the  excessive  contamination  which  the  Allegheny  now  receives." 

TABLE   CV. 

Sanitary  Chemical  Analyses  of  the  Allegheny  River  Water  at  Aspinwall  for  1911 

and  1912. 

(Parts   per   million.     Water   Bureau   Laboratory.) 


Nitrogen  as 

Ammonia. 

s 

Montb. 

o 

s 

0 

O 

i> 

m 

"o 

aj 

* 

a 

o 

Vj 

■g 

£ 

P 

fa 

< 

J^ 

£ 

o 

1911. 

January,     

February,     

March 

April 

May,     

June,     

July 

August 

September,    

October 

November,     

December 

1912. 

January 

February 

March,     

April,      

May 

June,     

July 

August,      

September 

October,    

November 

December 


.027 

.189 

.006 

.28 

.041 

.102 

.0*5 

.21 

.034 

.092 

.004 

.21 

.034 

.126 

.006 

.21 

.046 

.117 

.006 

.10 

.085 

.133 

.004 

.06 

.219 

.110 

.003 

.03 

.165 

.247 

.005 

.05 

.030 

.143 

.0OT> 

.10 

.050 

.230 

.006 

.12 

.051 

.117 

.007 

.14 

.038 

.114 

.007 

.25 

13.2 

.099 

.240 

.011 

.27 

14.0 

.037 

.186 

.008 

.26 

11.8 

.010 

.184 

.006 

.19 

10.2 

.033 

.103 

.006 

.09 

9.1 

.069 

.066 

.005 

.12 

8.4 

.131 

.087 

.004 

.11 

9.7 

.077 

.148 

.003 

.08 

8.7 

.065 

.202 

.004 

.09 

9.5 

.047 

.086 

.005 

.09 

12.1 

.036 

.068 

.006 

.07 

13.9 

.034 

.055 

.007 

.09 

4.1 
2.5 
2.1 
2.5 
2.1 
2.2 
2.1 
9.0 
8.7 
4.0 
3.1 
2.9 


4.0 
4.0 
4.2 
3.3 
2.5 
3.3 
2.4 
4.0 
3.4 
2.4 
2.8 


346 


Summarizing  the  river  water  character — the  Kiskiminetas  is  acid 
from  two  causes,  namely,  the  decomposition  of  shale  and  culm  piles 
near  the  coal  mines,  and  the  drainage  from  the  mines  themselves. 
Such  acid  waters  contain  silicates  and  sulphates  of  aluminium,  man- 
ganese, calcium  and  magnesium,  and  also  free  acid.  When  diluted 
by  the  alkaline  waters  of  the  creeks,  these  acids  change.  The  sul- 
phates of  iron,  aluminium  and  manganese,  decompose,  producing 
hydrates  of  these  metals  and  also  sulphates  of  calcium,  magnesium, 
etc.  Some  of  these  bodies  and  silicates  exist  in  a  semi-soluble  condition 
and  do  not  precipitate  even  when  mixed  with  the  Allegheny  River 
water.  The  precipitating  action  which  follows  can  be  observed  all 
along,  even  in  the  Kiskiminetas  and  many  of  its  tributaries,  as  evi- 
denced by  the  iron  coloring  on  the  rocks  and  the  bed  of  the  stream 
and  further  by  the  scouring  out  of  some  of  these  iron  deposits  in 
flood  time. 

The  Allegheny  river  above  the  Kiskiminetas  is  different.  It  is 
alkaline,  often  turbid,  and  never  acid;  it  carries  clay,  oil  and  also 
paraffin.  Where  the  Allegheny  and  Kiskiminetas  meet,  there  is  a 
marked  coagulation  and  precipitation  of  the  iron  and  aluminium; 
but  there  is  no  regularity  in  the  action.  A  sudden  rise  in  the  Kiski- 
minetas River  will  characterize  the  waters  of  the  Allegheny  and 
manifest  itself  in  the  Ohio  River.  A  rainfall  on  the  upper  Allegheny 
Basin  and  not  on  the  Kiskiminetas  will  send  down  into  the  Ohio 
River  a  water  of  an  entirely  different  character.  And  so  at  Aspin- 
wall,  one  day  the  water  may  be  approaching  an  acid  condition  and 
the  next  day  it  may  be  alkaline.  Within  a  few  days  the  water  may 
change  from  one  which  contains  clay  particles  that  remain  suspended 
indefinitely,  to  one  containing  particles  that  subside  after  a  few  hours 
quiescence.  The  highest  turbidity  of  3,900  parts  in  a  million  was  of 
short  duration.  Marked  changes  are  also  shown  in  dissolved  constit- 
uents. When  calm,  the  surface  of  the  river  water  shows  a  coating  of 
oil  or  paraffin. 

(e) — Difficulties  Encountered  in  Operating  the  Aspinwall  Filter 
Plant,  Imposed  by  the  Allegheny  River  Water. 

The  original  layout  of  the  Aspinwall  Filter  Plant  in  1899,  was  for 
twentyjfive  acres  of  uncovered  slow  sand  filters,  capable  of  delivering 
an  actual  yield  of  fifty  million  gallons  for  twenty-four  hours  and  of 
yielding  a  maximum  of  seventy-five  million  gallons  for  twenty-four 
hours.  When  the  city  came  to  build  the  plant,  forty-six  acres  of  filters 
were  constructed  and  they  were  covered  over  as  described ;  but  it  has 
never  been  possible  to  obtain  this  rate  of  two  million  gallons  an  acre, 
or  a  daily  output  of  ninety-two  million  gallons  of  satisfactory  water 
under  adverse  conditions  in  the  Allegheny  River  without  application 
of  a  germicide.    In  1906,  before  the  forty-six  filters  were  ready  to  be 

347 


put  in  operation,  it  was  estimated  that  four  units  would  always  be  out 
of  commission  and  that  forty-two  units  would  be  in  actual  service. 
Furthermore,  it  was  estimated  that  with  normal  Allegheny  River 
water,  a  unit  would  deliver  an  average  of  2.525  million  gallons  each 
twenty-four  hours  for  twenty  days  between  cleanings,  equivalent  to 
a  total  yield  of  fifty  million  gallons;  and  that  for  the  worst  Allegheny 
River  water,  a  unit  would  deliver  2.417  million  gallons  each  twenty- 
four  hours  for  twelve  days  between  cleanings,  equivalent  to  a  total 
yield  of  twenty-nine  million  gallons,  and  that  for  the  best  Allegheny 
River  water,  a  unit  would  deliver  2.91  million  gallons  each  twenty- 
four  hours  for  thirty-five  days  between  cleanings,  equivalent  to  a  total 
yield  of  102  million  gallons  daily.  Experience  has  shown  that  for 
the  normal  and  best  Allegheny  River  waters,  four  units  out  of  com- 
mission at  a  time  are  sufficient;  but  when  the  raw  waters  are  at  their 
worst  and  each  filter  unit  cannot  be  run  over  tweh'e  days,  it  is  at 
times  necessary  to  have  at  least  eight  units  out  of  commission. 

The  average  number  of  units  in  use  each  day  by  months,  and  the 
average  daily  yield  in  million  gallons  to  the  unit  by  months  for  the 
last  three  vears,  are  given  in  Table  CVI. 


TABLE   CVI. 

Daily   Yields  of  Filters  at  the  Aspinwall  Filter  Plant  for  Three  Years. 


January, 

February, 

March, 

April 

May 

June 

July 

August,  . . 
September, 
October,  .. 
November, 
December, 


Per 

Per 

Day. 

Unit. 

42 

1.64 

41 

1.78 

41 

1.96 

41 

1.90 

42 

1.95 

42 

2.00 

42 

2.07 

42 

1.93 

41 

2.05 

35 

2.31 

35 

2.34 

41 

2.02 

Per 
Day. 


Per. 
Unit. 


2.21 
2.30 
2.41 
2.16 
2.35 
2.37 
2.46 
2.60 
2.70 
2.70 
2.75 
2.70 


Per 
Day. 


Per 
Unit. 


2.70 
2.62 
2.64 
2.76 
2.75 
2.76 
2.77 
2.76 
2.73 
2.84 
2.5X 
2.64 


In  the  closing  months  of  the  year  1909,  sewage  organisms  were 
found  in  the  filtered  water  in  ten  cubic  centimeters,  on  an  average  of 
eight  days  in  the  month.  Beginning  January  of  1910,  hypochlorite 
of  lime  solutions  were  applied  to  the  filtered  water.  In  the  following 
Table  CVIT  is  noted  the  number  of  days  on  which  B.  Coli  have  been 
found  in  the  filtered  water  at  the  Aspinwall  plant. 


348 


TABLE  CVII. 

B.  Coli  in  Ton  Cubic  Centimeters  >>!'  the  AspinwaU  Filtered  Water  since  the  Plant 
Was  Started.    The  Table  Prepared  from  City  Records. 


January, 
February, 

March,    

April,    

May 

Juue,     

July,  ..... 
August,  . . 
September, 
October,  . 
November, 
December, 


Totals, 


1903. 


1910. 


1912. 


Days    15.    Coli    found, 


1 
Absent. 
l 
:: 
1 
3 
4 
5 
5 
6 
B 
5 

ai>.  ent, 
Ab  "hi . 
Absent. 

i 

3 
3 

4 

,  fi 
9 
3 

A  b  ••nl 

5 

9 
8 
8 

25 

40 

34 

The  filtrate  should  be  free  from  sewage  organisms. 

The  Aspinwall  sand  niters  clog  rapidly  and  give  low  yields  in  con- 
sequence. No  one  thing  is  the  sole  cause,  but  by  way  of  explanation 
it  may  be  stated  that  the  general  cause  is  the  mixing  of  the  waters  of 
the  two  chemically  unlike  streams,  the  Allegheny  and  the  Kiskiminetas 
Rivers,  and  the  incomplete  precipitation  of  the  bodies  which  result 
from  this  mixture.  In  Table  CVITI  are  given  chemical  analyses  of 
these  river  waters  before  their  union  and  of  these  waters  mixed  in 
various  proportions.  Tn  the  first  column  appears  the  determination. 
In  the  next  column  these  determinations  for  a  sample  of  the  Alle- 
gheny River  water  collected  just  above  the  Kiskiminetas  are  given; 
in  the  next  column  the  same  determinations  for  a  sample  of  the  Kiski- 
minetas River  water  collected  just  above  the  Allegheny  River  are 
given ;  in  the  fourth  column  are  given  the  results  of  the  analysis  of  a 
mixture  of  some  of  the  sample  of  Allegheny  River  water  with  some  of 
the  sample  of  Kiskiminetas  River  water,  the  ratio  being  seven  to 
three;  similarly  for  the  last  two  columns,  the  ratios  being  two 
to  eight  and  one  to  nine,  respectively.  These  tests  and  those  in  the 
table  which  follows  were  conducted  by  the  expert  employed  by  the 
city  to  carry  out  the  provisions  of  the  Commissioner  of  Health's 
decree  calling  for  experiments  to  determine  the  best  form  of  pre- 
treatment  of  the  raw  Allegheny  River  water  at  Aspinwall.- 


23 


349 


TABLE  CVI1I. 

Chemical  Analyses  of  Allegheny  River  Water  and  Kiskiniinetas  River  Water  Before 

Their  Union,   and   of  Mixtures  of  the   Same   Samples  in  Three  Different   Propor- 
tions. 

Parts  per  Million. 


Mixture. 


Determinations. 


i 

1 

w 

K 

- 

01 

Q 

o 

c 

a 

| 

u 

^ 

< 

M 

Oxygen  consumed,  .,... 
Nitrogen   as 

Free   ammonia 

Albuminoid   ammonia, 

Nitrates 

Chlo  Lne 

Sulphuric   Acid 

Alkalinity,     

Hardness 

Iron   (Fe) 

Residue  on  Evaporation: 

Total 

Suspended 

Dissolved,      

Manganese    (Mnl 

Calcium    (Ca), 

Magnesium    (Mg) 

Silica    (SiO.) 

Aluminium     (Al) 

Sodium  and  Potassium, 
Loss  on  Ignition: 

Total 

Suspended 


Iu2 

10.06 

17.1 

0.592 

4 

.058 

0 

0 

13. 9S 

7.37 

25.84 

142.5 

44.3 

—26.5 

G1.4 

195.0 

.37 

5.52 

•m 

252 

i3b 

295 
0.57 
10.50 

27.67 

5.30 

S.17 

15.55 

S.25 

15.60 

7.03 

13.  S3 

21.1 -.7 

31S 
US 

.2.01 
f.0.85 
£3.06 


2.61 

377 


15.66 
6.09 
13.36 
13.03 


40.4 


119.16 

"'T.69 

258 


24.23 

7.5S 
9.71 

S.71 


l  i     9 


8  03 
130.8c 

—  l!t.  4 

"h'Ai 

270 


25.95 
7.87 


When  these  waters  are  mixed,  coagulation  occurs  immediately,  but 
iu  varying  degrees.  With  sixty  to  seventy  per  cent.  Allegheny  River 
water,  it  occurs  quickest.  After  three  hours  mixture,  forty  per 
cent.  Allegheny  River  water  shows  the  best  clarification.  The  best 
result  is  found  with  twenty-five  per  cent.  Allegheny  River  water. 
The  acid  Kiskiniinetas  hydrolizes  and  precipitates  iron  oxide  on  stand- 
ing. In  Table  CIX  are  given  some  results  of  mixing  different  propor- 
tions of  the  two  river  waters,  allowing  coagulation  to  occur  and  then 
filtering  through  paper. 

TABLE  CIX. 

Iron  and  Alkalinity  Determinations  of  Various  Mixtures  of  the  Allegheny  River 
Water  and  the  Kiskiminetas  River  Water  after  the  Mixture  has  been  Coagulated 
and  Filtered  Through  Paper. 

Parts  per  Million. 


Sample. 


Allegheny  River,  unmixed 

Mixture  of  the  two  river  waters, 
Mixture  of  the  two  river  water?, 

Mixture  of  the  tWO   river  waters,    . 

Mixture  of  the  two  river  water-. 

Mixture  of  the  two  river  water-.   . 

Mixture  of  the  two  river  waters, 

Mixture  of  the  two  river  waters,  ., 
Mixture  of  the  two  river  waters, 
Ki.-kiminetas  River,    unmixed 


Ratio. 

iron. 

A. 

B. 

9  to    l 
7  to    3 
fi  to    4 
:,  to    5 
4  to    6 
3  to    7 
to    ! 
1   to    9 

1.37 

1.81 
2.68 

2.96 

0.56 

1.37 
1.78  , 

3.03 

3.86 

4.27 
4.69 
5.10 

5.52 

Alkalinity. 


21.0 


8.2 

B.8 

1.' 

—13.9 

—23.1 

—26.5 


A  means  Determined. 
B  means  Computed. 


350 


It  will  be  noted  that  the  amount  of  iron  precipitated  and  retained 
on  the  filter  paper  was  greatest  in  twenty-five  per  cent.  Allegheny 
River  water. 

When  the  two  rivers  mix,  the  iron  is  precipitated  more  rapidly  than 
the  aluminium  and  the  silicon,  but  some  remains  in  combination  with 
aluminium  and  manganese  in  the  form  of  silicate.  This  iron  is  the 
least  of  all  the  metals  in  combination  in  suspension,  and  the  alumin- 
ium is  the  highest.  During  the  drier  months  when  the  Kiskiminetas 
characterizes  the  Allegheny  water  at  Aspinwall,  occur  the  greatest 
summer  troubles  at.  the  Aspinwall  filter  plant,  due  to  a  peculiar  sud- 
den clogging  oi'  the  sand  surface  and  a  marked  reduction  in  the  yield 
of  the  filter.  A  pasty  substance  collects  on  the  filters.  Were  it 
granular  there  would  be  no  difficulty.  This  substance  exists  in  the 
water  in  a  partially  dehydrated  form  and  is  dehydrated  further 
at  the  surface  of  the  sand,  causing  the  clogging.  These  finely  divided 
hydrates  of  iron  and  aluminium  are  so  fine,  that  they  will  not  settle 
out;  but  in  contact  with  suspended  matter,  they  become  grouped  into 
masses  large  enough  to  settle  and  so  they  are  deposited  in  the  bed  of 
the  stream.  During  low  turbidity,  these  hydrates  not  having  a  body 
of  clay  to  work  on  as  matrix,  reach  the  Aspinwall  filters  and  form  on 
the  surface  of  the  sand  beds  a  gelatinous  mass.  Aluminium,  more 
than  iron,  is  present  in  this  form. 

The  substances  which  cause  the  most  difficulty  are  colloidal  silicates 
of  iron  and  aluminium  and  manganese  which  not  only  precipitate  in 
the  sand  filter  as  do  the  hydrates  of  these  metals,  but  also  possess 
the  power  to  cement  the  sand  grains  into  a  layer.  Sometimes  this 
extends  as  far  as  four  inches  into  the  sand.  This  condition  may  be 
brought  about  at  any  time  by  any  agent  that  will  cause  precipitation 
of  colloidal  silicates.  At  times  of  high  turbidity  of  the  river  water 
the  action  occurs  naturally  in  the  stream.  At  other  times  it  occurs  on 
the  sand  surface  of  the  beds  and  cuts  down  the  yield  of  the  filters  one- 
third.  A  low  alkalinity,  low  turbidity,  low  sulphate  and  the  presence 
of  paraffine,  are  other  agencies  and  conditions  under  winch  any 
slight  change  may  cause  the  coagulation  of  the  silicates  in  the  upper 
layer  of  the  sand  beds. 

Oil  or  paraffine  is  always  present  in  the  Allegheny  River  water  at 
Aspinwall.  It  collects  on  the  river  surface  and  on  the  surface  of  the 
water  in  the  sedimentation  basin,  during  calm  days.  Sometimes  the 
film  of  paraffine  is  white  like  ice.  It  collects  on  the  sand  surface  and 
it  is  a  contributary  cause  of  filter  clogging.  When  cold  weather  sets 
in,  between  four  and  seven  degrees  centigrade,  there  is  a  sudden  clog- 
ging due  partially  to  paraffine  ice  formation. 


351 


(f) — Experiments  on  Preliminary  Treatment  of  the  Allegheny 
Ji'ivtr  *\Yater. 

The  city  of  Pittsburgh  employed  Mr.  George  A.  John- 
son, a  consulting  engineer,  expert  in  the  treatment  of  waters,  assisted 
by  Mr.  Robert  Spurr  Weston  to  make  the  tests  required  by  the  Com- 
missioner of  Health  to  determine  the  most  efficient  and  economical 
method  of  suitably  preparing  the  waters  of  the  Allegheny  River  for 
final  filtration  through  the  slow  sand  filters  at  Aspinwall,  to  get  the 
maximum  daily  yield  from  the  fifty-six  acres  of  filters  now  con- 
structed— possibly  200,000,000  gallons.  It  was  established  by  these 
experts,  that,  beyond  all  doubt,  the  speedy  clogging  of  the  filters  is 
due  primarily  to  the  acid  condition  of  the  Allegheny  River,  and  the 
presence  in  the  river  water  of  unprecipitated  colloidal  hydrates  and 
silicates  of  iron,  aluminium  and  manganese,  complicated  at  times 
by  the  presence  of  coloring  matter  and  paraffine-like  bodies,  and  by 
sudden  changes  in  mineral  constituents  and  the  temperature. 

The  sole  object  of  the  treatment  sought  by  the  experiments  was  to 
coagulate  the  fine,  suspended,  gelatinous  hydrates  and  silicates  be- 
fore they  reach  the  sand  surface  of  the  filters.  It  was  found  that 
the  simple  addition  of  chemicals  and  clay  would  not  be  sufficient, 
for  the  available  period  of  subsidence  in  the  existing  sedimentation 
basin  is  too  short.  Contact  is  necessary,  even  after  the  addition  of 
suitable  coagulants,,  efficiently  and  economically  to  remove  the  sub- 
stances that  interfere  with  filtration.  It  was  found  by  experiment  that 
in  passing  raw  Allegheny  River  water  over  baffles,  the  best  forms  of 
which  are  basins  filled  with  coarse  gravel,  the  interfering  matters  will 
be  retained  in  the  baffles.  Contact  alone,  without  chemicals,  will  be 
sufficient  for  the  treatment  of  this  river  water  for  at  least  175  days  in 
the  year. 

The  main  factors  in  the  contact  treatment  are  depth  and  size  of 
material.  A  rate  of  75,000,000  gallons  an  acre  a  day  and  a  depth 
of  eight  feet  of  gravel,  ranging  from  half  an  inch  to  one  inch  in  diam- 
eter, is  best  adapted  to  local  conditions  as  shown  by  the  experiments. 
A  baffle  built  of  such  material  will  not  need  more  than  fifty  cleanings 
in  a  year.  As  planned  they  are  to  be  built  of  concrete  and  in  com- 
partments, so  that  any  one  compartment  may  be  flushed  out  by  open- 
ing large  gates  connecting  at  the  bottom  to  the  sewer. 

The  experiments  proved  what  the  State  Department  of  Health  be- 
lieved they  would  prove,  that  no  known  system  of  water  purification 
employing  single  filtration  ran  purify  the  Allegheny  River  water  at 
Aspinwall  without  preliminary  treatment  embodying  for  the  future 
the  application  at  times  of  chemicals. 

For  water  high  in  turbidity,  no  chemical  is  necessary,  although  the 
addition  of  a  little  sulphate  of  alumina  would  be  desirable  at  times. 
The  summary  of  chemical  treatment,  and  the  recommendation  of  the 
experts  were  as  follows: 

352 


"The  addition  of  clay  and  sulphate  of  alumina  is  indicated  for  water  containing 
hydrates  and  silicates  of  iron,  aluminum  and  manganese.    The  addition  of  clay  alone 

will  prevent  clogging  for  awhile,  but  ultimately  the  application  constantly  of  fine 
clay  will  clog  the  sand  and  reduce  the  yield  of  the  filters.  It.  is  necessary  to  add 
enough  sulphate  of  alumina  with  the  day  to  secure  good  coagulation  and  thereafter 
effect  the  removal  of  (lie  bulk  Oi  the  precipitated  matter  by  means  of  the  baffles 
and  basins.  In  other  words,  it  is  necessary  to  increase  the  specific  gravity  oi  the 
suspended  matter  and  thereby  accelerate  its  speed  of  subsidence. 

"Treatment  with  sulphate  of  alumina  alone  prevents  the  cementation  of  the  sand, 
but  enough  line  aluminum  hydrate  is  carried  to  the  filters  to  cause  surface  clogging. 
The  amount  of  clay,  in  conjunction  with  sulphate  of  alumina,  would  vary  between 
twenty  and  sixty  parts  per  million,  equivalent  to  from  about  165  to  500  lbs.  per 
million  gallons;  the  amount  of  sulphate  of  alumina  would  vary  between  three 
and  twenty  parts  per  million,  equivalent  to  from  about  25  to  165  lbs.  per  million 
gallons.  These  amounts  are  quite  small  and  the  average  would  not  exceed  forty 
pounds  of  clay  and  ten  pounds  of  sulphate  of  alumina  per  million  gallons. 

"The  addition  of  sulphate  of  alumina  alone  is  indicated  for  the  treatment  of 
a  water  containing  organic  coloring  matter  and  tannery  waste.  It  is  possible  that 
clay  may  be  needed  in  the  future,  but  conditions  requiring  it  have  not  been  met 
during  the  past  year.  Treatment  with  sulphate  of  alumina  alone,  would  be  re- 
quired for  about  sixty  days  annually,  and  an  average  of  about  ten  parts  of  the 
chemical  per  million,  equivalent  to  eighty-three  lbs.  per  million  gallons,  would 
have  to  be  used. 

"Waters  containing  colloidal  silicates  require  the  same  treatment  as  those  con- 
taining colloidal  hydrates.  These  two  kinds  of  water  occur  during  about  the  same 
periods  and  usually  require  treatment  together.  Both  kinds  of  water  together  would 
require  treatment  for  about  120  days  annually. 

"For  water  containing  fine  turbidity,  the  addition  of  sulphate  of  alumina  alone 
would  be  required.  This  treatment  may  be  estimated  to  be  necessary  for  ten 
days  annually.  Fine  turbidity  occurs  in  the  water  at  other  periods,  but  it  is  less 
important  at  such  times  because  of  the  presence  of  other  substances  requiring 
chemical  treatment. 

"Lime  must  be  added  when  the  water  is  acid  and  possibly  when  the  alkalinity 
approaches  zero.  The  addition  of  sal-soda  does  not  give  so  good  results  and  caustic 
soda  is  too  expensive,  although  efficient.  As  the  acidity  of  the  water  may  increase 
in  the  future,  it  is  difficult  to  estimate  how  often  or  how  much  lime  will  be 
required.  Judging  from  the  composition  of  the  river  water  during  the  past  year, 
it  is  estimated  that  lime,  to  the  extent  of  ten  parts  per  million,  will  be  required  for 
twenty  days  per  annum.  Sulphate  of  alumina  and  sometimes  clay  will  be  required 
at  these  times  also,  as  the  absence  of  turbidity,  which  is  usually  a  characteristic 
of  acid  water,  is  favorable  to  the  accumulation  of  gelatinous  masses  and  paraffine 
like  bodies  in  the  filters. 

"The  experiments  have  shown  that,  at  certain  times,  great  benefit  has  been  derived 
by  the  use  of  bleaching  powder.  This  tends  to  coagulate  the  colloidal  silicates. 
It  has  an  added  advantage  in  that  it  acts  as  a  germicide  in  the  water,  provided 
enough  be  added.  Ordinarily,  less  than  three  parts  per  million  were  added,  equiva- 
lent to  less  than  twenty-five  pounds  per  million  gallons.  It  would  be  good  practice 
to  use  bleaching  powder  in  conjunction  with  sulphate  of  alumina  for  the  treatment 
of  certain  waters,  especially  those  containing  silicates,  as  our  experiments  have 
shown  that  the  use  of  chemical  materially  increased  the  yield  of  the  filters  during 
periods  of  low  efficiency. 

"Chemical  treatment  may  be  summarized  in  the  following  table: 

"Table  Showing  Estimated  Amounts  and  Kinds  of  Chemicals  to  be  Added   to  the 
Allegheny  River  Water  to  Prepare  it  for  Further  Purification. 


Substance    Added. 


a" 

a 

c 

c 

c: 

Pl* 

0) 

t£ 

13 

C 

C3 

« 

< 

fc  o 


Sulphate  of  Alumina, 

Clay,*  

I^iitie,     


190 

10 

83 

$0  75 

120 

40 

332 

0  83 

20 

10 

83 

0  21 

*Used    with   sulphate   of   alumina. 


353 


"No    separate    estimate    Of    the    cost    of    bleaching    powder    is    given    because    it   will 

effect  a  savin-  sulphate  of  alumina.     The  estimated   average   total   cost 

of   chemical    treatment,    computed    upon    the   data    given    in    the   above    table,    is 
•   per   million   gallons  or  $24,630.00   per  annum,   exclusive  of  labor  and   bxed 
charges  for  I  gallons  daily. 

"The  chemicals  may  be  best  applied  to  the  river  water  near  the  inlet  of  Subsiding 
Basin  No.  -'.  It  is  essential  that  they  be  added  at  different  points,  and  each  sub- 
stance should  be  fairly  well  mixed  with  the  water  before  another  is  added.  AH 
the  Chemicals  may  be  added  dry  or  mixed  with  water.  The  devices  Eor  the  appli- 
CatiOD  6f  the  Chemicals  should  ho  placed  in  a  house  which  should  also  provide  the 
necessary  storage  room  for  the  chemicals." 

11'  additional  sedimentation  capacity  equivalenl  to  ten  days  stor- 
age of  the  raw  Allegheny  River  water  were  provided,  even  this  period 
of  subsidence  would  not  alone  prepare  the  water  for  final  nitration 
at  all  times,  unless  chemicals  were  used  now  and  then  when  neces- 
sary suitably  to  prepare  the  water.  The  city  has  concluded  that  fac- 
tors of  cost  absolutely  bar  out  this  possible  alternative  for  the  method 
recommended. 


(g) — Proposed  Improvements  at  the  Aspinicall  Filter  Plant. 

The  improvements  to  the  Aspinwall  Filter  Plant,  proposed  as  a  re- 
sult of  the  experiments  made  by  order  of  the  Commissioner  of  Health 
are  as  follows: 

All  of  the  Allegheny  River  water  taken  for  the  public  supply  by 
the  city  of  Pittsburgh  at  Aspinwall,  whether  chemically  treated  or 
not,  is  to  be  passed  through  contact  baffles,  these  baffles  to  be  built 
of  concrete  in  tank  form  and  divided  into  units  of  about  sixty-one  feet 
in  length  by  forty-one  feet  in  width  each,  and  there  being  twenty-four 
of  them  to  be  built  in  the  end  of  sedimentation  basin  No.  3,  gives  a 
total  area  of  1.4  acres  for  a  minimum  capacity  of  100,000,000  gallons 
of  water  daily.  The  contact  material  is  to  be  gravel  ranging  in  size 
from  half  an  inch  to  one  inch  and  the  depth  of  the  contact  layer  is 
to  be  eight  feet. 

After  the  water  has  passed  through  these  baffles,  the  effluent  is  to 
be  conducted  to  the  existing  sedimentation  reservoirs.  These  reser- 
voirs are  to  be  provided  with  "A"  frame  baffles.  The  water  from  these 
reservoirs  will  be  applied  to  the  slow  sand  filter. 

A  chemical  house  with  all  necessary  appliances  and  appurtenances 
is  to  be  erected;  but  not  until  the  contact  baffles  have  been  tried  out. 

Furthermore,  an  additional  pumping  station  is  to  be  erected  at 
once.  Its  location  is  to  be  along  the  river  front  adjacent  to  the 
present  filtered  water  basin.  The  pumps  are  to  deliver  filtered  water 
to  the  North  Side.  The  re-pass  to  the  ten  filter  units,  built  since  1008, 
will  be  completed  this  season  and  these  additional  units  will  be  ready 
to  operate  by  the  time  the  preliminary  treatment  baffles  are  completed. 
An  additional  pump  is  to  be  installed  at  the  Ross  Station.     All  of 


354 


these  additions  and  extensions  are  imperative  for  the  furnishing  of 
filtered  water  to  the  North  Side.  A  new  storage  reservoir  for  filtered 
water,  to  hold  150,000,000  gallons  is  being  planned  for  the  North 
Side.    The  money  for  all  these  things  is  available. 

(h) — Summary  Of  the  Survey  with  Reference  to  Pittsburgh's  Water 
Supply. 

Summarizing  the  sanitary  survey  of  the  Allegheny  River 
Basin  with  respect, to  Pittsburgh's  water  supply,  it  is  significant  to 
note  that  the  Aspinwall  slow  sand  filters  have  been  unable  to  fur- 
nish a  filtrate  free  from  sewage  organisms.  When  the  rate  at  which 
the  Allegheny  River  water  after  sedimentation  is  passed  through 
the  filters  is  accelerated,  as  now  proposed,  an  increase  in  sewage  or- 
ganisms in  the  filtrate  may  be  expected  unless  a  germicide  is  applied  to 
the  filtered  water.  Furthermore,  there  are  a  number  of  things  that 
might  happen  to  the  filtration  plant  any  one  of  which  might  necessi- 
tate the  introduction  of  unfiltered  water  into  the  water  districts  of  the 
city  for  a  short  time.  The  City  of  Pittsburgh,  several  years  ago,  re- 
quested the  State  Department  of  Health  to  preserve  the  purity  of 
the  Allegheny  River  water  for  the  protection  of  the  public  health, 
because  the  Pittsburgh  district  must  use  this  river  as  the  source  of 
public  water  supply.  The  city  requested  that  the  State  Department 
of  Health  include  in  its  orders  of  pollution  abatements,  not  only 
sewage  pollutions  but  industrial  waste  pollutions  also.  In  compliance 
wTith  these  requests,  the  Department  proceeded  to  make  a  comprehen- 
sive sanitary  survey  of  the  entire  watershed  and  the  Commissioner  of 
Health  has  issued  decrees  all  of  which  has  been  described  above  in 
detail. 

The  State  Department  of  Health  adheres  to  the  policy  that  it  is  es- 
sential in  the  interests  of  the  public  health  to  reduce  to  a  minimum 
the  discharge  of  untreated  sewage  into  tht  river  and  its  tributaries 
above  the  City  of  Pittsburgh's  water  works  intake.  As  indicated  by  the 
experiments  of  the  experts,  already  referred  to,  tannery  refuse,  waste 
from  oil  refineries  and  oil  wells,  and  the  discharge  from  distilleries 
and  from  coal  mine  operations,  each  and  all  have  a  deleterious  in- 
fluence on,  and  seriously  hinder  the  efficient  operation  of  the  slow 
sand  filters  at  Aspinwall.  The  possibility  that  a  generation  or  so 
hence  the  metropolitan  Pittsburgh  District  will  consume  water  from 
the  Allegheny  River  in  excess  of  one-half  of  the  total  flow  of  the  river 
during  droughts,  (as  the  stream  now  flows)  suggests  that  it  will  not 
be  sufficient  merely  to  apply  improved  methods  at  the  slow  sand  filtra- 
tion plant;  but  that  the  necessities  of  the  case  also  demand  the  be- 
stowal of  attention  at  the  sources  of  contamination  of  the  Allegheny 
River  Basin  waters. 


355 


The  Monongahela  Kiver  is  not  a  satisfactory  source  of  public  water 
supply  even  at  liie  present  time.  The  contamination  of  this  river  and 
the  Ohio  River  and  many  of  their  tributaries,  by  sewage  aud  industrial 
wastes  and  drainage  Jroiu  coal  mining  aud  coking  operations,  is  ou 

the  increase.  -No  practicable  method  of  restoring  tbe  streams  to  their 
normal  couditioii  of  purity  has  been  suggested  whereby  the  waters 
can  be  rendered  satisfactory  for  domestic  uses.  At  no  distant  future 
date  the  various  municipalities  along  the  <  Hiio  River  in  the  Pittsburgh 
District,  bach  of  the  South  Side  and  up  the  Monongahela  River  iu  the 
Pittsburgh  District,  and  in  the  same  district  east  of  the  city  and  up 
Turtle  Creek  Valley,  may  be  supplied  with  Allegheny  Kiver  water  as 
before  explained  and  it  is  vital  to  the  interests  of  this  vast  territory 
that  the  {Suite  of  Pennsylvania  proceed  along  a  comprehensive  plan 
of  action,  such  a  plan  as  has  been  inaugurated  by  the  Commissioner  of 
llealth,  and  estimated  to  extend  over  a  period  of  three  decades  before 
being  entirely  conslmmated,  to  regulate  and  control  and  to  reduce  to 
the  minimum  the  contamination  of  the  Allegheny  River  water  above 
Aspinwall  and  to  bring  this  water  to  the  people  of  the  Greater  Pitts- 
burgh District  in  as  nearly  its  natural  potable  condition  as  shall 
be  found  practicable;  but  in  carrying  out  this  campaign,  involving 
as  it  does  a  continuous  policy,  attention  must  be  bestowed  not  alone 
on  those  wastes  that  hinder  the  rates  of  filtration  at  the  Aspinwall 
plaut,  but  on  sewage  pollutions  also. 

The  city  now  purposes  to  prove  out  the  method  of  preliminary 
treatment  of  the  water  with  baffles  and  chemicals,  by  a  practical  ex- 
periment on  a  large  scale.  The  tests  already  made  of  the  process 
warrant  this  large]-  expenditure  of  money  and  if  the  larger  experiment 
should  reveal  the  desirability  of  modifying  the  plans  somewhat, 
these  improvements  will  be  embodied  in  the  further  application  and 
extension  of  the  method  of  pre-treatment  to  the  preliminary  treatment 
works  contemplated  for  sedimentation  basin  No.  1.  The  State 
Department  of  Health  deems  it  inexpedient  to  issue  wholesale  orders 
of  abatements  of  industrial  waste  pollutions  on  the  Allegheny  River 
Basin,  until  after  the  practical  experiment  on  a  large  scale  with  the 
contact  baffles  and  the  chemical  treatment  of  the  water  at  Aspinwall 
shall  have  de\  eloped  the  full  merits  and  defects  of  the  system.  Most  of 
the  hindrances  to  filtration  of  the  Allegheny  River  water  at  Aspin- 
wall are  due  to  the  acid  waters  of  the  Kiskiminetas.  The  tannery 
wastes  and  wastes  from  chemical,  pulp,  and  paper  mills  come  largely 
from  the  Clarion  River  and  above.  The  paraffine  complained  of  is 
contribute]  largely  at  the  individual  oil  wells  on  the  watershed 
where  the  crude  oil  is  produced,  rather  than  at  the  refineries.  It  is 
possible  that  with  these  various  wastes  and  pollutions  excluded  from 
the  waters  of  the  Allegheny  Basin  or  minimized,  regulated  and  con- 
trolled, and  with  additional  improved  facilities  for  treatment  at  the 


856 


Aspinwall  filter  plant,  the  Allegheny  River  may  be  continued  as  the 
permanent  source  of  public  water  supply  for  the  Pittsburgh  district. 

(i) — Conclusions  and  the  1912  Decree  oj  the  Commissioner  of 
J  leal  ih. 

Iu  conclusion  the  Commissioner  of  Health  on  May  8th,  1912, 
approved  the  plans  for  the  proposed  preliminary  treatment  of  the  Alle- 
gheny River  water  at  Aspinwall  and  for  the  other  extensions  and 
improvements  to  the  water  works  system  and  issued  a  decree  as 
follows : 

"In  view  of  the  foregoing  circumstances,  it  has  been  agreed  and  determined,  that 
the  proposed  improvements  to  the  water  works  system  are  in  line  with  the  re- 
quirements of  the  decree  of  the  Commissioner  of  Health  to  the  City  of  Pittsburgh, 
dated  August  17th,  1908,  and  that  said  improvements  will  not  be  prejudicial  to 
public  health,  and  I  hereby  and  herein  approve  the  same  and  grant  a  permit 
therefor,  subject  to  the  following  conditions  and  stipulations: 

"FIRST  The  city  shall  forthwith  proceed  to  install  the  twenty-four  contact 
baffles  as  proposed,  in  conformity  with  the  plans  submitted,  and  operate  the  same 
and  keep  daily  records  of  such  operation  and  submit  copies  of  the  same  and  of  the 
operation  of  the  entire  filter  plant,  for  filing  in  the  office  of  the  State  Department 
of  Health ;  these  reports  are  to  be  made  on  forms  satisfactory  to  the  Commissioner 
of  Health;  and  if  the  experiments  on  this  practical  scale  prove  the  system  of 
treatment  with  chemicals  to  be  reasonably  satisfactory  and  efficient,  then  additional 
contact  baffles  shall  be  provided,  in  conformity  with  detailed  plans  to  be  submitted 
to  and  approved  by  the  Commissioner  of  Health ;  and  the  object  to  be  attained  in 
all  these  improvements  shall  be  to  furnish  the  entire  territory  of  the  City  of  Pitts- 
burgh at  all  times  with  a  pure  and  wholesome  and  satisfactory  quality  of  filtered 
water. 

"SECOND:  Plans  of  the  proposed  chemical  house  and  apparatus  for  the  appli- 
cation of  the  chemical  to  the  waters  to  be  filtered  or  treated,  shall  be  filed  in  the  office 
of  the  State  Department  of  Health,  together  with  plans  for  the  new  pumping  station 
and  the  new  storage  reservoir,  and  the  filing  of  these  plans  with  specifications  and 
a  full  report  thereon,  shall  constitute  an  approval  of  the  same,  unless  within 
thirty  days  of  such  filing,  the  State  Department  of  Health  modify  or  amend  the 
same. 

"THIRD:  The  State  Department  of  Health  reserves  to  itself  the  right  to  make 
such  suggestions  and  recommendations  to  the  city  regarding  the  source  of  water 
supply  and  the  treatment  of  the  water,  as  may  be  deemed  advisable  by  the  Com- 
missioner of  Health  in  the  interests  of  the  public  health.  The  Commissioner, 
with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Governor  and  the  Attorney  General,  will  con- 
tinue the  State  policy  of  carrying  on  a  campaign  for  the  reduction  to  the  minimum 
of  the  sewage  pollutions  of  Pittsburgh's  source  of  water  supply ;  but  the  Depart- 
ment will  postpone  until  after  the  practical  experiments  with  the  chemical  and 
contact  baffle  method  of  treatment  is  tried  out,  the  matter  of  regulating  the  dis- 
charge of  industrial  wastes  into  the  said  waters  of  the  Allegheny  River  and  its 
tributaries. 

"FOURTH:  No  other  treatment  than  the  one  hereby  and  herein  approved  shall 
be  applied  at  the  Aspinwall  Filter  Plant  or  anywhere  in  the  water  works  system  of 
the  city,  without  the  plans  first  having  been  submitted  to  and  approved'  by  the 
Commissioner  of  Health. 

"FIFTH:  The  city  shall  at  the  earliest  possible  moment  supply  filtered  water  to 
all  of  the  South  Side  District  with  special  reference  to  the  Esplen  Territory. 

"SAMUEL  G.   DIXOX, 
Commissioner  of  Health  " 


357 


The  foregoing  report  on  the  sanitary  survey  of  the  Allegheny  River 
Basin  will  show  to  those  who  study  it  a  comprehensive  policy  which 
will  take  many  years  to  carry  out.  The  continuity  must  qo1  be  broken 
if  efficient  results  are  to  be  secured.  The  work  must  progress  grad- 
ually. The  policy  of  the  State  is  becoming  understood  and  accepted 
as  one  that  subserves  the  interests  of  all  concerned.  It  is  better  that 
progress  in  these  matters  should  be  by  common  consent  than  by 
compulsion.  If  the  large  water  power  developments  projected  in 
the  basin  and  the  storage  reservoirs  proposed  by  the  Pittsburgh  Flood 
Commission  are  carried  forward  within  the  next  twenty  years,  these 
changes  will  exert  a  far-reaching  influence  on  the  quality  of  Pitts- 
burgh's water  supply  brought  down  in  the  channel  of  the  Allegheny 
River  to  the  intake  at  Aspinwall. 


358 


INDEX. 


Note — Under    "Description"    are    included    population,     industries,     water    supply, 
sewerage,  pollutions,  etc.,  of  the  place  named. 

Acetate  of  lime,  method  of  making,  42. 

Acidity  in   relation   to   the   bacterial   content  of  streams   (and   Diagram),    cf     Coal 

Mines,  297. 
Acidity  (see  also  alkalinity),  in  the  waters  of  the  Basin,   Discussion,   347;   in   the 

Kiskiminetas  River  and  its  tributaries,  199. 
Adrian: 

Description,   184;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),   187. 
Agriculture: 

As  a  contributing  factor  of  the  pollution  of  the  Allegheny  Basin,   296;   in   the 
basin  (cf.  Farms),  43. 
"Alcohol  water"  of  the  chemical  plants,  43. 
Alkalinity — cf.  Acidity: 

of  the  Allegheny  River  water  at  Aspinwall,  330,331,332,333,335,336,337,338; 

of  Allegheny  River  and  Kiskiminetas  River  waters  and  of  mixtures  of  them,  350. 
Allegany  (N.  Y.): 

Tannery,  68;  Description,  69;  Population  and  distance  on  the  river,  293. 
Allegheny  City  ("North  Side")  ;  cf.  Pittsburgh. 
Allegheny  City  Home  (cf.   Claremont): 

Typhoid  fever,   (1906-1912),  291. 
Allegheny  County  Workhouse,  see  Claremont. 
Allegheny  River: 

Source  and  general  character,   57;   For  the  character  in  the  various  sections, 
see  Table  of  Contents;    General  course,   4;   Name  and  geological  history,   3; 
Gauging,     13,14,15,33,102;    Analytical    data,    82,102,103,174,247-252,325-351,350. 
Allegheny  Valley  Water  Co.,  246,  261,  265. 
Alwine,  Jerry: 

Water  supply  and  permit,  226. 
Analytical  Data: 

Alleghenv  River,  82,  102,  103,  174,  247-252,  325-351; 

Black  Lick  Creek,   etc.,   221;   Clarion  River,   144,   145;   Clover  Run,   1S1. 

Conemaugh  River,   198,199,234-236;   Conewango  Creek,   92;   Elk   Creek,   144. 

Esplen  district  water,   324;   Falls   Creek,   162;   French   Creek,   127. 

Hare  Creek,   97;   Kiskiminetas  River,   198,241-244,350. 

Little  Conemaugh  River,   208.209;   Magee's  Run,   199;   Oil  Creek,   114. 

Red  Bank  Creek  (and  North  Branch),  159;  Stony  Creek,  215;  Whetstone  Run, 
144. 
Anderson   Creek   (Susquehanna   watershed) . 

as   a   water   supply,    160. 
Anita:  Description,  184. 

Anthrax   and   Tannery   wastes,    99   (39,59,98,161,164,165). 
Apollo: 

Description,    237;    Analysis    of   Kiskiminetas    River    water,    198. 

Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),   244. 
Apollo   Water  Works   Co.,   238. 

Applewold  (Applewood):    Description,  174;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  187. 
Area,   Drainage,   of  the  Basin,   3;   of  tributary  basins,   5. 
Armagh:  Description,  21S. 
Armstrong  Water  Co.,  175,176. 

Arnold:    Description,  268;  Typhoid  fever,  269;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  291. 
Arroyo:      Tannery,    143. 

Arsenal  (Pittsburgh,   North  Side):     Elevation,   6;   Rainfall,   6. 
Ash  wood   in   the   basin,    38. 
Aspinwall    (cf.    Pittsburgh): 

Distances   along  the   river,   8,293;   Population,   293;   Navigation   dam,   36. 

Filter    plant,    304,354. 
Atwood:      Description,    190. 
Aultmans  Run.   232. 
Avery   Run:     Pollutions,    130. 
Avonmore: 

Description,   237:   Discharge  of  the  Kiskiminetas  River,   30,33,195 

Typhoid    fever    (1906-1912),    244. 
Bacteria  of  a   stream  in   relation  to  its  acidity  (and   Diagram),   297. 
Bacteriological  Data.   103,162,325,348. 
Baggaley,  223. 
Baldwin,    cf.    Fairview. 

(359) 


Baldwin   Run   as   a    water   supply,    228. 

Barden  Brook  as  a  water  supply,  62. 

Baums   Station:     Distances  along   the   river,   8. 

Bear  Creek,   137,138;  Pollutions,  41, 

Bear  Lake  (borough):     Description,  99;   Typhoid   fever  (1906-1912),   101. 

Bear  Rock  Hun:    As  a  water  supply.  201;  Pollution,  201. 

Beaver  Dam   Run:     Character  ami   pollutions,  210;   Water  power,    190,210. 

Beaver  Run  (Erie  Co.):  Water  power  development,  128. 

Beaver  Bun  (Clearfield  Co.):  Pollution,  182. 

Beaver  Bun   (Westmoreland   Co)  as  a   water  supply,   238. 

Beech    wood    in    the    basin,    38. 

Bells   Camp:      Sewage,    07. 

Bens  Creek  as  a   water  supply,   226. 

i   (Hollsopple  P.   O.):     Description,   212;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),   216. 
Beutle.v    Bun    as   a    water   supply,    128. 
Bents  Bun:     Distances  along  the  Allegheny  river,  9. 
Big  Bend  (.Cambria  Co.),  see  Expedit. 
Big  Brokenstraw  Creek,— see  Brokenstraw  Creek. 
Big  Buffalo  Creek:     Fish  stocking,   240. 
P.ig   Licking   Creek   as  a   water  supply,    154. 

Big  Mill  Creek,  141;  Water  power  development,   143;  as  a  water  supply,  149. 
Big  Paint  Creek  as  a  water  supply,  213. 
Big  Bun   (borough): 

Description,    183;   Tannery   pollution,    182;   Typhoid    fever   (1906-1912),    1ST. 
Big  Bun  Water  Co.,   183. 
Big  Bun  as  a  water  supply,  181,   183. 
Birch   wood  in  the  basin,  38. 
Black  Lick  (village):  Description,  231. 
Black  Lick  Water  Co.,  218. 

Black  Lick  Creek   land   its  Drainage  Area),   31,   33,    L93;   Analysis,   221;   Discharge, 
31,33;    Dam    proposed,    11:    Sanitary   survey,    210;    Pollutions,    41,200,217-219; 
Water   supplies,    L98,203;    Water   power,    196;    Typhoid    fever   (.1906-1912),   222. 
Black    Bun:      Water    power    development,    125. 
Blacksmith    Bun    as    a   water   supply,    05. 
Blairsville: 

Description    and    conditions.    196,230;    Analytical    data    (Conemaugh    Biver   and 
Magee's  Bun),    198,199,236;    Industrial  wastes,   200;   Typhoid  fever   (1900-1912), 
236. 
Blood v  Bun  (part  of  Sulphur  Bun):     Pollution,  231. 
Blooming  Valley:     Description,   132;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),   135. 
Blue  Bock:     Distances  along  the  river,   8. 
Bogus   Bun   as  a   water  supply,    107. 
Bolivar  (Indiana  Co.)  and  the  clay  production,  52. 

Bolivar  (Westmoreland   Co.):     Description,   229;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),   236 
Bolivar   (N.    Y.):     Description,   71. 
Bond  Vein:     Chemical  plant,  41,80. 

Boswell:     Description,   212;   Typhoid   fever   (1906-1912),    216. 
Bracken  Bun  as  a. water  supply,  217. 
Brackenridge  (cf.  Natrona,  Tarentum): 

Description,  260;  Typhoid  fever,  2(il  ;     Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),   291,292. 
Bradford: 

Description,    70:    Chemical   plant,    41;    Belation   to   the   petroleum    industry,   51; 

Typhoid   fever   (1906-1912),   78. 
Brady's   Bend:     Iron   Furnaces,   49. 
Braeburn:     Analysis   of   Allegheny    River   water,    247. 
Brandon:     Distances  along  the  river,   8;   River  bed  at,   118. 
Brickmaking:     Important  plants,  53,  228,  229. 
Brilliant  Pumping  Station,  300,309. 
Brockway    Crystal    Water    Co.,    152. 
Broekwayville: 

Description,    151;   Analysis   of  Whetstone  Bun,    144;   Typhoid    fever    (1906-1912), 
155. 
Brokenstraw  Creek  (and  its  Drainage  Area): 

Area,   5,18;   Distances  along  the   river,   5,9:     Elevations   and   rainfall,   6;   gaug- 
ing,   18,33,96:    Sanitary    survey,    95;    Population,    294;    Pollutions,   39,40,97,100 
(discussion),  296. 
Brokenstraw    Creek    District: 

Conditions   along   the    River,    84,93;    Population,    294;    Summary   of   pollutions, 
296. 
Brokenstraw    Island:     Distances   along   the   river,    9. 
I'.i-ookstou:     Description,    108. 
Brook  ville: 

Description,    166;    Elevation,    6;    Rainfall,    6,156;    Typhoid   fever,    167;   Typhoid 
fever  (1906-1912),    171. 
Brookville  Water  Co.,   166,167. 
Brown's   Island:     Distances   along   the   river,    9. 
Brownstown: 

Description,   227;   Typhoid    fever   (1906-1912),   236. 
"Brown    acetate    of   lime,"   42. 


360 


Bruin:    Description,  139;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  155. 

Brush  Creek,  218. 

Buck   Bun,   and   as   a    water  supply,    182. 

Buffalo  Creek,   as  a   water  supply,   246,257;    Water   powers,   245;   Pollutions,   254, 

257. 
Buffalo  and  Susquehanna  Co.,  181,183. 
Buffington  Water  Co.,  218. 
Bullis  Mills:     Powder   factory,    62. 
Buttsville:     Chemical   plant,   41. 
Caldwell   Creek,    116. 
Callensburg:     Description,   154. 
Cambria    County   Water   Supply   Co.,    204. 

Cambridge    Springs:      Description,     L30;    Typhoid    fever    (1900-1912),    135. 
Canals   and    canalization    in    the    Basin,    36,55,118,120,100. 
Canoe    Creek,    and    pollution,    153,184. 

Carlton:    Discharge  and  drainage  ana  of  French  Creek,  21,  33,  124. 
Cascade   Coal  and    Iron   Co.:     Water  supply  for   Sykesville,    182. 
Cassadaga   Creek   (N.    Y.),    86,89. 
Cassandra:     Elevation,  Bainfall,  6. 
Catfish  Bun:     Distances  along  the  river,  8. 
Celoron  (N.  Y.):     Description,  90. 

Centerville:     Description,    115;   Typhoid   fever   (1906-1912,    117. 
Chadakoin  Biver  (N.  Y.),  86,  88. 
Charcoal:     Manufacture  in  the  chemical  plants,   42. 
Charcoal    iron    industry    and    forest    destruction,    38. 
Chautauqua   (N.   Y.),   88. 
Chatauqua    Association    Grounds   (N.    Y.): 

Water  supplv  and  sewer  system,  etc.,  89. 
Chatauqua   Lake(N.    Y.),   86,88. 
Chemical  Analysis   of  the   streams,    cf.    Analysis. 
"Chemical   oil":     of  the   chemical   plants,   43. 
Chemical   Plants: 

as  factors  in  the  pollution  of  the  Basin,  39,42,295. 

Lists  and  summary,   41,296:  Notes  on  various  plants,  59, 60, 62, 64, 68, 71, 73, 76, SO, 
82,106,107,116,142,143,149,216. 
Cherry  Creek   (N.   Y.):     Population,   Pollution,   89. 
Cherry  Bun   (Clarion   Co.),    154. 

Cherry  Bun   (Venango   Co.),   as  a  water  supplv,   114,117. 
Cheswick:     Description,    278;   Typhoid   fever   (1906-1912),    291. 
Cheswick  Water  Co.,   278. 
Cbrystie  Bun:     Pollution,   140. 
Chestnut  wood  in  the  basin,  38. 
Citizens  Water  Co.   of  Kittanning,    176. 
Citizens  Water  Co.   of  New  Bethlehem,    169. 
Clapboard   Creek:     Acidity  tests,    199. 

Clapboard  Bun:     As  a  water  supply,  206;  Pollution,  207. 
Claremont   (or  Warner   Station) : 

Sewerage  of  Allegheny  City  Home  and  the  County  Workhouse,   287. 
Clarendon: 

Description,   107;  Valley  at,   105;   Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),   109. 
Clarington:     Proposed  Dam,   11. 
Clarion : 

Description,    152;    Elevation,    6;    Bainfall,    6,142;    Analysis    of    Clarion    Biver 
water,   145;   Typhoid   fever  (1906-1912),   155. 
Clarion   Water   Co.,    152,153. 
Clarion  Biver   (and  its  Drainage  Basin): 

Area,   5,33;   Distances  along  the  Biver,   5,8;   Discharge,  26,33,142;   Slope,   142; 
Analysis,  144,145;  Coal,  46,296;  Dam  proposed,  11:  Water  powers,  143;  Popu- 
lation,   294;    Sanitary    Survey,    140;    Pollutions,    39,40,41,295,296.' 
Clarion   Biver  District:     Conditions  in   the  Allegheny  Basin,    117,136,294,295,296. 
Clarks   Island:     Distances  along   the  river,    8. 
Clay  and  Clay  Products: 

of  the  Basin,   52;  Notes  on  certain  regions,   158,173,191,197,230,245. 
Clear  Creek   (N.    Y.),   87. 
Clear   Lake,    114. 

Clearfield   Bituminous   Coal   Co.,   Water  supply   for   Bossiter,    181. 
Clermont: 

Chemical  plant,  41:  Mine  wastes,  64. 
Clinton:     Distances  along  the  river,   8. 
Clintonville:     Description,    121. 
Clover    Bun: 

as  a  water   supply,    180,183;    Analyses,    181:    Pollutions,    180,183. 
Clymer:     Population,    etc.,    219;    Typhoid   fever    (1906-1912),    222. 
Clymer   Water   Co.,    219. 

Coagulation  and  precipitation  in  the  Allegheny  Biver  and  their  results,  347. 
Coal   and   Coal   production: 

in  the  Basin,  44,118:  Belation  to  stream  flow,  35;  Belation  to  acidity  of 
streams,  199;  Summary  of  pollutions  by  sections,  296;  Waters  from  mines 
and  coal  washeries  as  purifying  agents,  297 ;  Chart  showing  the  principal 
mines,    45. 

361 


Coal  mines  and  mine  drainage: 

Notes   on    the   conditions   in    various   basins:— 126,136,141,143,151,155,157-189,172, 
173,180,189,191,197,210,211,215,217,222,224,225,226,233,241,245,253;    Discussion   of 
the  pollutions  and  effect  on   the  streams,    16,47,170,186,202,296,329. 
Coalpit  Run:    Pollution,  217. 
Cochranton: 

Typhoid   fever  £1906-]  ;    Description,    134. 

Coke  Production  (cf.  Coal  Mines): 

of  tli«'  Basin,  44,47;  Notes  on  certain  cokeries,   182,184,211  221,223,224;  Ookeries 
as  purifying  agencies,  297. 
Cokcville:     Description,    230;   Typhoid   fever   (1906-1912),    236. 
Colleries    cf.    Coal   mines. 

Colloidal  substances  as   the  cause  of  filter   troubles,   351,352. 
Color  of  the  Allegheny  River  water  at  Aspinwall,  33]  133,346. 

Columbus:     Description,    98;   Typhoid    fever   (1906-1912),    101. 
Commissioner  of   Health: 

Discussion  of  conditions  ami  policy  regarding  sewerage  or  waterworks — cf.  Per- 
mits and  Decrees,   and  also  the  prefatory  Introduction. 
Coneville:     Chemical   plant,    41. 

Conemaugh  (cf.    East  Conemaugh):     Typhoid   fever  (1907),  200. 
Conemaugh    and    Franklin    Water    Co.,    204,206. 
Conemaugh   River   (see   also   below): 

Aciditv  ami  alkalinity  tests,    L99;  Analyses,  198,234,233,236;  as  a  water  supply, 
UN;    industrial   pollution,   200. 
Conemaugh   River   Valley: 

Descriptive,   and   Sanitary  survey,   192,202,225;   Elevation  (Cassandra)  and  rain- 
fall,  6;  Typhoid   fever   (1906-1912),   236. 
Conewango  Creek   (and  its  Drainage  Area): 

Area,  5;  Distances  along  the  River,   5.9;   Flow,   17,33,S9;  Analyses,  92;   Sani- 
tary  Survey,    86,294,296. 
Conewango   Creek   section:     Conditions   in   the   Basin,    78,84,294,296. 
Conifer:     Water  supply,   158. 

Conklin  Run:     Distances  along  the  Allegheny  river,  8. 
Conneaut   Lake   (horough,   formerly    Evansburg): 

Description,    134;    Water    power    development,    120,134;    Typhoid    fever    (1906- 
1912),    135. 
Conneaut   Lake   (pond),    134 
Conneaut   Lake   Creek   (also  called  Conneaut   Creek):     134   (and  pollutions);   Water 

power  development,  125,126. 
Conneauttee  Creek:     Pollutions,   131. 
Conneauttee  Lake,   131. 

Continental   Divide,    in    relation   to    the   Basin,    3. 
Cool  Springs:     Water  power  development,  157. 

Coopersdale  (Johnstown):     Analyses   of   Conemaugh   River  w7ater,    199,234. 
Cooperstown: 

Description,   135:    Water   power  development,    126,135. 
Coral: 

Description,  221;  Water  supply,  198. 
Cornplanters  Islands:     Distances  along  the  river,  9. 
Corn  planter  Creek  Monument:     Distances  along  the  river,  9. 
Corry: 

Description,   98;    Elevation,    rainfall,    6;   Typhoid   fever   (190G-1912),    101. 
Corry  Water  Co.,  98. 

Corry ville:     Chemical  plant,   pollution,    62. 
Corsica: 

Description,    168;   Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),    171. 
Corydon:     Distances  along  the  river,  9;   Elevation,   72;   Dam  gone,   73. 
Coudersport: 

Description,   59;  Distance  along  the  river.   293;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  61. 
Coursin   Island:     Distances  along  the  river,   8. 

Cowanshannock:     Distances   along   the   river,   8;    Sandstone   quarries,    53. 
Cowanshannock   Creek,    and   pollutions,    173. 
Crab  Tree,  224. 

Craigs ville:     Water  power  development,  245. 
Crawfordstown:     Description,    184. 
Creasote  pollution,  39. 

Creekside:      Description,    190;    Typhoid    fever    (1906-1912),    192. 
Creekside  Water  Co.,   190. 
Crenshaw,    Water  supply,    152. 

Cresson:     Description,   200;   Typhoid   fever   (1906-1912),   207. 
Cresson  Water  Co.,  201. 

Crooked  Creek   (and   its  Drainage  Area).    187;   Coal    production,   40;   Discharge  and 
area,  29,33:  Pollutions,  296;  Population,  294;  Proposed  dam,   11;  Slope,   188; 
Water  powers,   189. 
Crooked  Creek  District: 

Conditions  in  the  Basin,  172,187,294,296. 
Crosby:    Chemical  plant,  41. 

Crosby  Gas  Co.:     Water  supply  to  Newery,  65. 
Croyle  Run  as  a  water  supply,  205. 
Cuba   Cnt.   Y.):     Description,   69. 

362 


Cuba  Reservoir  (N.   Y.),  68. 

Curllsville:     Description,    153;    Typhoid    fever    (19061012),    155. 

Cussewago   Creek: 

Discharge   and   drainage   area,    23,33;    Water   power   development,    126. 

Custer   City:     Description   and    pollutions,    70. 

Dahogn:     Chemical  plarit,  41,143. 

Daisytown:     Description,    227;    Typhoid    fever    (1906-1912),    236. 

Dale:      Description,    226;    Typhoid    fever    (1906-1912),    236. 

Dales  Island:     Distances  along  the  river,   8. 

Dalton   Run  as  a  water  supply,   225. 

Dams  and  Locks  in  the  Allegheny  River,  8,10,36,245;  prospective  benefit,  55;  in- 
fluence on  turbidity,  etc.,  332. 

Dam   at  Brookville,   167. 

Davis  Run  as  a  water  supply,  216. 

Dayton:      Description,    187;    Typhoid    fever    (1906-1912),    187. 

Decrees— cf.    Permits. 

Deer   Creek,    141. 

Deer   Lick   Creek   as   a   water   supply,    107,108. 

Deer  Lick  Water  Co.,   now  the   Sheffield   Water  Co.,   108. 

Deforestation  and  floods,   11. 

Degolia:     Chemical   plants,   41. 

Derry:  Description,  229;  Elevation  and  rainfall,  6;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912), 
236. 

Derry   Water   Co.,    230. 

Dewdrop:     Discharge   and   drainage  area   of  Kinzua   Creek,    16,33. 

Discharge  (and  drainage  area)  of  certain  streams: 

Allegheny  River,  10,13,14,15,33,94,172;  Black  Lick  Creek,  31,33;  Brokenstraw 
Creek,  18,33;  Clarion  River,  26,33;  Conewango  Creek,  17,33;  Crooked  Creek, 
29,33;  Cussewago  Creek,  23,33;  French  Creek,  21,33,124;  (North  Branch), 
22,23;  Kinzua  Creek,  16,33;  Kiskiminetas  River,  30,33;  Little  Conemaugh 
River  (and  South  Fork),  193;  Loyalhanna  Creek,  32,33,194;  Mahoning  Creek, 
28,33;  Oil  Creek,  20,33,113;  Red  Band  Creek,  27,33;  Sugar  Creek,  24,33; 
Tionesta    Creek,    19,33,106. 

Distances  of  various  places  (towns,  bridges,  tributaries,  etc.)  along  the  Allegheny 
River,    5,8,293. 

Divides   of   the  Allegheny   Basin,   3. 

Dixie   Run   as   a  water   supply,    pollutions,   211. 

Dixon,   S.    G.,   Commissioner  of  Health: 

Discussions  of  conditions  and  policy  regarding  sewerage  or  waterworks  cf. 
Permits   and   the   prefatory   Introduction. 

Dodges  Creek,   68. 

Donegal:     Description,   222. 

Drainage  areas,  and  for  certain  tributaries:— 15,  21,  25,  30,  33,  58,  62,  63  (Potato 
Creek),  70  (Oswayo  Creek),  72  (Great  and  Little  Valley  Creeks),  75  (Tununga- 
want  Creek),  87  (Conewango  Creek),  94  (Section  7),  96  (Brokenstraw  Creek), 
106  (Tionesta  Creek),  113  (Oil  Creek),  124  (French  Creek),  142  (Clarion  River), 
157  (Red  Bank  Creek),  179  (Mahoning  Creek),  188  (Crooked  Creek),  193  (Black 
Lick  Creek),  195  (Kiskiminetas  River). 

Drakes  Mill:     Water  power  development,   125. 

"Drake  Well"  and  the  petroleum   industry,   50. 

DuBois,  John  E.,  Private  water  system,   160. 

DuBois:  Description,  160;  Elevation  and  rainfall,  6;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912), 
171. 

Dunn's   Island:     Distances   along  the   river,   8. 

Dutchmans  Run,   85. 

Dysentery  in  Johnsonburg  from  a  lumber  camp,   146. 

East  Brady: 

Description,   140;  Distance  along  the  river,  8;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  155. 

East  Brady  Water  Co.,   140. 

East  Conemaugh: 

Description,  206;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  207. 

East  Hickory  Creek:     Distances  along  the  river,   8. 

East  Pittsburgh: 

Typhoid  fever  (1905-1912),  289. 

East  Pittsburgh  Water  Co.,  301. 

East   Salamanca   (N.   Y.)     (cf.    Salamanca): 
Sewerage,  74. 

East   Sandy: 

Distances   along    the   river,    8. 

East  Smethport  (cf.  Smethport),  65. 

East  Vandergrift: 

Description,   239;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),   244. 

Eau  Claire: 

Description,    122. 
Ebensburg: 

Description,    203;    Typhoid   fever    (1906-1912),    207. 
Edenburg: 

Description,    153;    Typhoid    fever    (1906-1912),    155. 

363 


Edgewood: 

Typhoid  fever  (1905-1912),  2S9. 
Edinboro: 

Description,    131;   Typhoid   fever   (1006  1912),    135. 
Ehrenfeld: 

Description,    205. 
Elder  ton: 

Water   power.    189;   Typhoid    fever   (1906-1912),    192. 
Eldred: 

Description,  62;   Distance  along  river.  293;  Typhoid   fever  (1908-1912),  67 
Eleanor: 

Description,   182. 
Elevation  of  various  parts  of  the  basin,  4,6;   of  Salamanca  and  Corydon,   72. 
Elgin: 

Description,    128. 
Elk    Creek    (Elk    Co.),    141,148,150:    Analysis,    144;    Summary    regarding   pollutions, 

295. 
Elk  Creek,  1S5  (error  for  Elk  Run). 
Elk    Hun    (Jefferson   Co.):     Pollution,    184,185. 
Elkhorn  Island,  104. 

Ellicottville  (N.   Y.):     Population   and   pollutions,   73. 
Elton,   213. 
Emlenton: 

Description,    122;   Distances   along   the   river,   8,293;   Typhoid   fever   (1906-1912), 
135. 
Emlenton   "Water   Co.,    122. 
Ernest: 

Description,    190. 
Erosion:     Conditions   which   favor   it  in   the  Basin,   35. 
Errata: 

P.  53  line  11  from  below.     For  phosphorous  read  phosphorus. 

P.  60  The   population   of   Port   Allegany    should    be— about   2,000. 

P.  67  line  1.     For  Belle   Camp  read    Bells  Camp. 

P.  97  line  16.     For  Youngstown   read   Youngsvifie. 

P.  121.     There  were  25  cases  in  Polk  in  1906. 

P.  152  line  16.     Let  it  read  Strattonville. 

P.  185  line  14  from  below.     Let  it  read  Elk  Run. 
Esplen   plant  and   water  district,   301;    Bacteriological  analyses,   324. 
Ethel  Springs  as  a  water  supply,  230. 
Etna: 

Population  and  distance  along  the  River,  8,  293. 
Evansburg,  now  Conneaut  Lake  q.  v. 
Expedit  (or  Big  Bend): 

Description,  217. 
Fairview  (Baldwin  P.   O.)  (Butler  Co.): 

Description,  139;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),   155. 
Falconer  (N.  Y.): 

Description,  90. 
Fallen  Timber  Run  as  a  water  supply,  pollutions,  211. 
Falls  Creek  (borough): 

Description,  161;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),   171. 
Falls  Creek: 

Pollutions,  159,  161;  Bacteriological  analyses,  162, 
Farms: 

Soil  and  agriculture  in  the  Basin,  43; 

Notes   on    farm    lands    and    farming,    57, 63, 67,70, 72, 75, 79, 87, 88, 93-96,, 101, 102, 109, 
112,  113,  118,  125,  126,  133,  142,143,152,  155-158,  161,  168,  172,  179,180,188,189,191, 
194,244. 
Farren  Run  as  a  water  supply,  201. 
Ferndale: 

Description,  227. 
Filtration: 

Plant  at  Pittsburgh  and   its  operation,   difficulties  and  remedial   measures,   304, 
307,  347,  352. 
Firebrick,  52,  53,  188. 
Fish  in  the  Allegheny  Basin: 

Notes  on  their  destruction,  and  on  restocking.  39,  55,  .58,  62,  75,  79,  93,  94,  101, 
102,  109,  118,  125,  136,   142,   11!,   155,  181,  189,  191,  207,  214,  221,  224,  246. 
Flat  Rock  Water  Co.,  205. 
Flenncrs  Run  as  a  water  supply,  205. 
Floods  of  the  Allegheny  River  and  their  control,  10; 

Control  and  navigation,  36. 
Florence: 

Description,  184. 
Flow — (see  Discharge): 

Relation  to  sanitation  and  water  supply,  35. 
Ford  City: 

Description,  177;  Distances  along  the  river,  8,  293; 

Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),   187. 

364 


Forest  Conditions: 

Relation  to  run-off,  34;  Timber  find  woodlands  of  the  Basin,  37;  (cf.   Lumber). 
Four  Mile  Run:  Pollution,  223. 
Foxburg: 

Description,  123;  Distances  along  the  river,  8. 
Foxburg  Water  Works  Co.,  123. 
Franklin  (City,  Venango  Co.): 

Description,   119;  Distances  along  the  river,  8,  293;  Elevation,  6;  Rainfall,  6, 
124;  F.  and  the  petroleum  industry,  51;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  135. 
Franklin  (Borough,  Cambria  Co.): 

Description,  206;  Analyses  of  Little  Conemaugh  River  water,  209; 

Typhoid  fever  (1907),  206;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  207. 
Franklin  Water  Co.   (Armstrong  Co.),  175. 
Franklinville  (N.  Y.): 

Description,  69. 
Freeport: 

Description,  253;   Distances  along  the  river,  8,   293;   Elevation,  6;   Rainfall,   6, 
195;  Sandstone,  53;  Typhoid  fever  (1907),  254;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  291,292. 
Freeport  Water  Works  Co.,  253;  Permit,  254,  256. 
French  Creek  (and  its  Drainage  Area): 

Sanitary   Survey,    123;   Analyses,    127;    Distance,    5;    Discharge   (and   area),    5, 

21,  33,   124;   Slopes,   124;   Elevation  and  rainfall,   6;   Population,  294;   Storage 

dams  (proposed),  10;  Canalization  (historical),  118,  126;  Pollutions  (summary), 

39,  40,  295,  296;  Water  power  developments,  125;  Water  supply,  129,  131,  133. 

French  Creek  District:  Conditions  in  the  Allegheny  Basin,  109,  117. 

Frewsburg  (N.  Y.): 

Discharge  and  drainage  area  of  Conewango  Creek,  17. 
Frozen  Hollow  Creek:  Pollutions,   239. 
Furnaces,  cf.  Iron. 
Furnace  Bridge: 

Discharge  and  drainage  area  of  Mahoning  Creek,  28,  33. 
Furnace  Run  as  a  water  supply,  222. 
Furnace  Water  Co.,  219. 

Gallagher  Run  as  a  water  supply.  149;  Pollution,  150. 
Garfield: 

Description,  228. 
Garland,  95,  96. 

Gas  (cf.  Natural  Gas):  As  a  waste  of  the  eokeries,  52. 
Geneva: 

Description,   134;  Water  power  development,   125; 

Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  135. 
Genesee  Valley  Canal  (N.  Y.),  68. 
Geological  memoranda,  3,  4,  45,  52. 
Gilbert  Brook  as  a  water  supply,  77. 
Glade: 

Description,  80,  82;  and  oil  production,  87. 
Glade  Run,  40,   187. 
Glass: 

Notes  on  plants  and  production,  53,  58,  60,  62-64,  71,   79-81,   106,   107,   143,   158, 
173,  175,  178,  197,  219,  223,  230,  232,  245,  252,  261,  265,  269,  274. 
Glass  sand  rock  in  the  basin,  53. 
Glen  Hazel:   Chemical  plant,   143. 
Glue: 

Notes  on  certain  plants,  80,  253,  274,  276. 
Goose  (or  Long)  Island:  Distances  along  the  river,  9. 
Graceton: 

Description,  220. 
Grand  Valley: 

Description,  116;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  117. 
Grandin:  Lumbering,  102. 
Great  Valley  Creek  (N.  Y.),  72,  73. 
Greenbriar  Water  Co.,  226. 

Hardness  of  the  river  water,  see  Analyses. 

Hare  Creek,  96;  97  (Analysis);  98  (as  a  water  supply);  100  (pollutions  discussed). 

Haskell  Creek,  68. 

Hawthorne  (formerly  West  Millville) :  _ 

Description,  168;  Elevation  and  rainfall,  6. 
Hays  (or  Pickings)  Run,  211. 
Hazlehurst:  _ 

Description,  65. 
Hazlehurst  Water  Co.,  65. 
Head  Run  as  a  water  supply,  65. 
Hemlock:  Importance  in  the  Basin,  38. 
Hemlock  Creek:  Distances  along  the  Allegheny  River,  8. 
Hemlock  Island:     Distances  along  the  river,  8. 
Hnnry's  Run:  Distances  along  the  Allegheny  River,  8. 
Heronhead  Creek,  132. 

24  365 


Heir's  Island  Dam:  Elevation  and  Rainfall,  6. 
Hickory:  Tannery .  93. 
Hickory  Creek,  94. 
Hileman's  Farm: 

Discharge  and  drainage  area  of  Crooked  Creek,  29. 
Hills ville,  see  Lower  Hillsville. 
Hinckston   Run,  227. 

Hodges  Run:     Distances  along  the  Allegheny  River,  9. 
Homer  City: 

D  -  ripti  >d,  220;  Typhoid  Eever  (1906-1912),  222. 
Hooker,  Paul,  Assistant  Engineer  in  charge  of  the  Survey,  1. 
Hooks   island  Mill:     Distances  along  the  river,  9. 
Hooper's  Run,  233. 
1  [ooversville: 

Description,  211.  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  216. 
Hooversville  Water  Co.,  21 1 . 

Horse  Creek:  Distances  .- 1 1  •  > 1 1 ix  the  Allegheny  River,  8. 
Hostetter,  - 

Hunters  Run:  Distances  along  the  Allegheny  River,  8. 
Hutchins:  Chemical  plant,  143. 
Hyde  Park:  Description,  239. 
Hydetown: 

Description,  115;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  117. 
Hydrates  of  certain  metals  as  filter  doggers  at  Aspinwall,  351. 

Ice  Gorges,  10.  109. 

Indian  Creek:  Pollution  (to  the  Youghiogheny) ,  223. 

Indian  Reservation   (in   New  York)   along  the  Allegheny,   73. 

Indiana: 

Description.   219;   Typhoid   fever  (1000-1912),   222. 
Instanter:  Tannery,  143. 
Iron.  Determinations,  cf.  Analyses. 
Iron : 

Notes  on   ore  and   manufacturers   (Pollutions,    etc.),   48,   49,    158,    159,    161,    173, 
197,  245,  253,  297. 
Irvinton:  Gauging  of  Brokenstraw  Creek,  96. 
Ischua  Creek .  68. 
Iselin:  Description,  223. 

Jackson  Run,  86. 
Jackson  Water  Co.,  217. 
Jacksonville: 

Description,   232:  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  236. 
James  City:   Glass  plant.   107. 
Jamestown  (N.  Y.) ;  Description,  90. 
.Tenner:  Description,  211. 
Jenner  Water  Co.,  212. 
Jennertown:  Description,  211. 
Johnetta: 

Description,  191;  Typhoid  fever  (1900-1912),  192. 
Johnsonburg: 

Description,   14") :   Analysis  of  Clarion  River  water,   145; 

Typhoid  fever  (1904-1908),  145;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  155. 
Johnsonburg  Water  Co.,  145. 
Johnstown: 

Description,   225:   Elevation   and   rainfall,   0:   Acidity   tests  of  streams  near  by, 
199-   Analvses  of  the  Conemaugh   River  water,    198,   235;   Gauging,   193  (Little 
Conemaugh    River),    194    (Stony    Creek);    Ore    bed,    49,    225;    Typhoid    fever 
(1906-1912),  236. 
Johnstown   Water  Co.,  225. 
Josephine: 

Description,  218;  Analyses  of  Black  Lick  Creek  water,  etc.,  221. 
Josephine  Water  Co.,  219. 

Kane: 

Description,  81;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  84. 
Kantner:  Water  power,  210. 
Karns  City:  Description,  138. 
Kellettville:  I  >escription,  109. 
Kelly:  Distances  along  the  river,  8. 

idall  P.i 1<  as  a  water  supply,  76. 

Kennerdell:  Distances  along  the  river,  8;  Class  sand  rock,  53. 

Kensington  Water  Co.,  209,  270. 

Kimmeytown: 

Discharge  and  drainage  area  of  North  Branch  of  French  Creek,  22,  33. 
Kingston,  223. 
Kinzua: 

Description,  82;  Chemical  plant,  80. 

366 


Kinzua  Creek  (and  its  basin),  79;  Distances  along  the  river,  '.) ;  Gauging  and  drain- 
age area,  16,   :;:;;   Pollutions,  40,  41,  296. 

Kinzua  Island:  Distances  along  the  river,  9. 

Kiskiminetas  Junction,  195. 

Kiskiminetas  River  (sec  also  below)  (cf.  Black  Lick  Creek,  Loyalhanna  Creek). 
Analyses,  198,  199,  241-244,  350;  Distances  along  Hie  Allegheny,  5,  8;  Gauging, 
30,  33,  195;  as  a  water  supply,  108;  Pollution,  200;  Influence  on  the  Allegheny 
River  water,  347. 

Kiskiminetas  River  Basin   (and   its  condition): 

General  character,  L92,  104;  Sanitary  survey,  237;  Area,  5,  33;  Elevations  and 
rainfall,  6;  Coal  production,  40;  Population,  294;  Summary  regarding  pollu- 
tions, 295,  290;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  244. 

Kiskiminetas  River  District:    Conditions  in  the  Allegheny  Basin,  187,  192. 

Kittanning: 

Description,  176;  Distances  along  the  river,  8;  Gauging  station  and  discharge  of 
the  river,  14,  33,  172;  Floods,  12;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  187. 

Kramer  Water  Co.   (Siverly),   104. 

Kushequa:  Chemical  plant,  pollutions,  80. 

Kyle  Run,  161;  Bacteriological  analysis,  162. 

Lake  Rowena,  203. 

Lakewood  (N.  Y.),  89. 

Lanegar  Creek  as  a  water  supply,  60. 

Latrobe: 

Description,  223;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  225. 
Latrobe  Water  Co.,  223. 
Laurel  Run  (Cambria  Co.),  201,  204,  225. 
Laurel  Run  (Elk  Co.),  148. 
Laurel  Run  (Jefferson  Co.),  183. 
LeBoeuf  Creek:  Pollutions,  130. 
LeBoeuf  Lake,  130. 
Leechburg: 

Description,   240;   Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),   244. 
Leechburg  Water  Co.,  240. 
Leisure  Run:    Pollution,  169. 
Leopold,  H.  A.: 

Water  supply  to  Millerstown,  257. 
Lewis  Run:    Chemical  plant,  41. 
Liberty:    Chemical  plant  wastes,  59. 
Licking  Creek,   153,154. 

Lickingsville:    Water  power  development,  143. 
Licks  Run:     Distances  along  the  Allegheny  river,  9. 
Ligonier: 

Description,  222;   Elevation  and  rainfall,   6;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  225. 
Lilly: 

Description,  201;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  207. 
Limestone  of  the  basin,  53,188. 

Limestone  (Clarion  Co.):    Water  power  development,  143. 
Limestone  (N.  Y.):    Description,  76. 
Limestone  Falls,  79. 
Limekiln  Run  as  a  water  supply,  128. 
Lindsey  Water  Co.,  180,183,185. 
Little  Brokenstraw  Creek,  95. 
Little  Conemaugh  River  (and  its  Drainage  Basin): 

Sanitary    Survev,    200;    Analyses,    208,209;    Gauging,    193;    Pollutions,    201-210; 
Population,  193;  Water  power,  196,204,205;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  207. 
Little  Conneauttee  Creek: 

Water  power  development,    125. 
Little  Cooley: 

Water  power  development,   126. 
Little  Elk  Run  as  an  industrial  Water  Supply,   181. 
Little  French  Creek  as  a  water  supply,   128,129. 
Little  Genesee  Creek  (N.  Y.),  71. 
Little  Licking  Creek  as  a  water  supply,   154. 
Little  Mahoning  Creek,   179,186;  Water  power,  180. 
Little  Paint  Creek   (cf.   Paint  Creek),   213. 

Little  Sandy  Creek  (Jefferson  Co.),   156,168;   Water  power  development,   157. 
Little   Sandy   (Creek)    (Venango   Co.),    121. 
Little  Scrubgrass  Creek: 

Water  power  development,  118. 
Little  Tionesta  Creek: 

Distances    along   the   Allegheny    river,    S. 
Little  Tobv  Creek,   141,151,295. 
Little    Valley    (N.    Y.): 

Description,    74. 
Little  Valley   Creek   (N.    Y.)    and   its   basin,    72,74. 
Livermore : 

Description,   232;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),   236. 
Locks:     See   Dams. 

367 


Locust  wood  in  the  basin,  38. 
Logansport : 

Distances  along  the  river,  8. 
Long   (or  Goose)    Island: 

Distances  along  the  river,  9. 
Lower  Hills ville: 

Distances   along   the   river,   8. 
Low  ville: 

Water  power  development,   125. 
Loyalhann  Creek  (and  its  Drainage  Area): 

General,   L94;  Discharge,  32,33,194;   Population,   194;  Proposed  Dam,  11;  Sani- 
tary Survey  of  the  basin,  222;  Pollutions,  200,224;  Typhoid  fever  (1900-1912), 

Ludlow: 

Description,    108;   Typhoid   fever   (1906-1912),    109. 
Lumber: 

cf.  Forest  conditions  and  Timber,  also  Chemical  plants. 
Lumber    camp    pollution,    116. 
Luxor,    224. 
Lycippus: 

Elevation   and    Rainfall,    6. 

McKees   Run   as  a   water  supply,    189,100. 
McKeesport: 

Studies  of  the  relation  of  the  acidity  and  the  bacterial  content  of  the  Youghio- 
gbeny  River,  297. 
McLains  Kim  as  a  water  supply,   152. 
Mace  Spring  Water  Co.,  229. 
Magees  Run,  8,199,229,230. 
Mahoning: 

Distances  along  the  river,   8;   Elevation,   6;   Gauging  of  the  creek,   179;   Rain- 
fall,  17!). 
Mahoning  Creek   (and   its   Drainage  Area): 

Area,  distances,  33,51;  Elevation  and  rainfall,  6;  Gauging,  28,33,179;  Dam 
proposal,  11;  Slope,  17!) ;  Coal  production,  46;  Population,  L'!)4 :  Sanitary 
Survey  of  the  basin,  178;  the  creek  as  a  water  supply,  181,183;  Pollutions, 
39,40,183,185;  Summary  of  pollutions,  295,296;  Water  power  development, 
180;  East  Branch,  182. 
Mahoning    Creek    District: 

Conditions    in    the    Allegheny    I'.asin,    Lm,172;    Distance,    5;    Population,    294; 
Summary   of  pollutions,   295,290. 
Manorville: 

Description,  177;  Distances  along  the  river,  8;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  187. 
Manorville  Water  Co.,  17,. 
Manufacturers   Water  Co.,  225. 
Maple  wood  in  the  basin,  38. 
March  Run: 

Pollution,  220. 
Mardi's  Run: 

Pollution,  218. 
Marie  Water  Co.,  217. 
Manila  Brook  as  a  water  supply,  76,  77. 
Marion  Center: 

Description,  189. 
Marion  Center  Water  Co.,  189. 
Marsh  Run: 

Pollutions,   134. 
Martindale  Water  Co.,  201. 
Marvin  Creek,  63,  65;  Water  power,  64. 
Marvindale: 

Chemical  plant,  41. 
Maurers  Run,  211. 
-Maxwell  Run: 

Chemical  plant,  143. 
May  ville  (N.  Y.): 

Description,  89. 
Mead  Run: 

Water  power  development,  143. 
Mead's  Island: 

Distances  along  the  river,  9. 
Meadville: 

Description,    132;    Elevation    and    rainfall,    6;    Gauging  of   Cnssewago   Creek,    23; 
Water   power  development,   126,   133;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),   135. 
Mechanicsburg  (Brush  Valley  P.  O.): 

Description,  218;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  222. 
Methyl    alcohol,    see   Wood   alcohol. 


Mill  Creek,  cf.  Big  Mill  Creek. 
Mill  Creek  (Cambria  Co.),  222,225. 
Mill  Creek  (Jefferson  Co.),  156. 
Mill  Creek  (Venango  Co.),  135. 


308 


Description,  130;  Water  power,  125;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  135 
Millerstown  (Ohicora  P.  0.): 

Description,  257. 
Millvale:  ,     .        _    _„ 

Distances  along  the  river,   and    popukii  ion,   8,    >'.)■>. 
Millwood  Run  as  a  water  supply,  230. 
Mina: 

Description,  60. 
Mines,  Mine  drainage,  etc.,  sec  Coal  Mines. 
Mineral  Analyses  of  the  streams,  included  ID  Analyses,  q.   r . 
Mineral  Springs  in  the  basin,  54—  see  also  Cambridge  Springs  and  Sacgrrtowu 
Monongahela  Kiver  as  a  source  of  water  supply,  356. 
Monongahela  Water  Co.,  301,  307. 
Morrison:     Chemical  plant  pollutions,  80. 
Morrison's  Creek : 

Distances  along  the  Allegheny  River,  9. 
Morrison  Run  as  a  water  supply,  85. 
Monterey: 

Distances  along  the  river,  8. 
Morrellville  and  Cambria  Water  Co.,  226. 
Mosgrove: 

Distances  along  the  river,  8. 
Mottled  Water  in  the  Allegheny  River,  329,  333. 
Mt.  Alton: 

Chemical  plant  pollution,  80. 
Mt.  Jewett:  ,     „„ 

Description,  SO;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  84. 
Mountain  Spring  Water  Co.,  201. 
Muddy  Creek,  130;  Water  powers,  126. 
Murray  Spring  as  a  water  supply,  146. 

Nadine,  287;  Analyses  of  Allegheny  River  Water,  250. 
Nansen: 

Chemical  plant,  41,  106. 

^Description,  216;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  222. 
Nant-y-Glo  Water  Co.,  216. 
Narrows  Creek  as  a  water  supply,  160. 

Description,    257;    Distances   along   the   river,    8;   Analysis   of   Allegheny   River 
water,  247;  Typhoid  fever,  259;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  291. 
Natrona  Water  Co.,  258;  Permits,  etc.,  258,  260. 

Natural  Gas:  .     „  __  _.     __    0,      M 

Notes  regarding  the  production  (m  part  historical),   51,   o7,  58,    ^0,    id,  81,   102, 
105,  118,  143,  149,  158,  180,  189;  Chart  of  the  fields,  51. 
Navigation  (cf.  Canals),  past,  present  and  prospective,  in  the  Allegheny  Basin,  36, 

54,  73,  94,  109,  172,  196,  245. 
Nebraska:  „  _.  _      ,      __     „„     TTr   ,  ,      , 

Discharge  and  Drainage  area  of  Tionesta  Creek,  19,  33;  Water  power  develor- 

ment,  106. 
New  Alexandria:  „      .      „ 

Description,  224;  Discharge  of  the  Loyalhanna  Creek,  32. 

Description,' 169;  Water  power,  158;  Typhoid  fever,  (1906-1912),  236. 
New  Florence: 

Description,  228;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  236. 
New  Florence  Water  Co.,  228. 
New  Kensington:  .  .  . 

Description,   270;   Distances  along  the  river,   8,   293;   Analysis   of  river  water, 
247;  Pollutions,  253;  Typhoid  fever,  270,  (1906-1912),  291. 
New  Lebanon: 

Description,  135. 
New  Mayville: 

Water  power  development,   158. 
New  Salem: 

Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  244. 
New  York  State:  .  .  . 

Distances  of  linos  and  places  along  the  river,   9;   Conditions  in  the  basin   (cf. 
Drainage  area  of  Conewango  Creek,  Brokenstraw  Creek,  French  Creek),  67,  73. 
Newerf: 

Description,  64. 
Newton : 

Chemical  plant  pollutions,  80. 
Nicholsons  Dam: 

Distances  along  the  river,  8. 
Nine  Mile  Run,  and  pollution,  223. 
Nitroglycerine: 

Plants  and  wastes,  76,  143,  153. 

309 


Normal  Schools,  see  State  Normal  Schools. 
North  Braddock: 

Tvphoid  fever  (1905-1912),  2S9. 
North  Branch  of  French  Creek,  22,  33,  123;  of  Red  Bank  Creek,  L56,  L59,  167. 
North  Olean,  see  Olean. 
North  Rossiter,  (ef.  Rossiter): 

Description,   184. 
North  Sandy  Creek  as  a  water  supply,  121. 
Northwestern  Tuberculosis  League: 

Sanatorium,  67. 
Norwich: 

Description,  66. 

Oakmont: 

Description,  281;   Distance  along  the  river,   293; 

Analysis  of  Allegheny  River  water,  248,  249; 

Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  291. 
Oaks  of  the  basin,  38. 

Odor  of  the  Allegheny  River  water  at  Aspinwall,  344. 
Oil  (Petroleum): 

Notes  on  the  industry  (in  part  historical)  and  its  pollutions,  50,  6/,  68,  75,  76, 
si,  84,  87,  88,  94,  102,  105,  107,   L09,   lid,  112,  114,  118,   121,  126,  136,  143; 
I     art  of  the  petroleum  fields,  51. 
Oil,  and  filter  clogging  at  Aspinwall,  351,  356. 

Oil  City:  .         „,>..„,,,,„ 

Description,   110;  Distances  along  the  river,  8;  Elevation,  6;  Rainfall,  6,   113; 
Population,  293;  Dams  proposed,  10;  Relation  to  the  petroleum  industry,  50; 
Sandstone  (vicinity),  53;  Typhoid  fever  (1894-1905),  111;  (1906-1912),  117. 
Oil  Creek  (and  its  Drainage  Area): 

Area,  5,   20;   Distances  along  the  river,   5,   8;   Elevation,   6;   Gauging,  20,   113; 
Rainfall,  6;   Slopes  113;   Analyses  of  the  Creek  water,   114;    Sanitary   Survey 
of  the  basin,  112;  Population,  204:   Water  supply,   114;  Relation  to  petroleum 
production,  50;  Summary  of  pollutions,  296. 
Oil  Creek  District:  n  „      „     . 

Conditions  in  the  basin,  101,  109;  Population,  294;  Summary  of  pollutions,  296. 
Oil  Creek  (N.  Y.),  68,  69. 
Olean  (N.  Y.): 

Descriptions,  69;  Distances  along  the  river,  9;  Pollutions,  68,   73;  Relation  to 
the  oil  industry,  68. 
Olean  Creek,  68. 
Oleopolis: 

Distances  along  the  river,  8;  Lumber  industry,  102. 
Olivedale: 

Chemical  plant  pollutions,  80. 
Oswayo: 

Descriptive,  71;  Typhoid  fever,  72. 
Oswayo  Creek  (and  its  Drainage  Area):  _  .-■»„«.* 

Area   and   distances   along   the   river,    5;    Elevation    and    rainfall,    6;    Sanitary. 
Survey    of   the   basin,    69;    Population,    294;    Summary    regarding   pollutions, 
295,  296. 
Oswayo  Creek  District  of  the  Basin: 

Conditions,  61,  67;  Population,  294;  Summary  regarding  pollutions,  295,  296. 
Oswayo  Water  Co.,  71. 
Oxygen  of  the  Allegheny  River  water  at  Aspinwall,  346. 

Paint: 

Description,  213. 
Paint  Township  Water  Co.,  213. 
Paint  Creek  (Clarion  Co.): 

Water  power  development,  143. 
Paint  Creek  (Somerset  Co.),  212,  213;  (Acidity),  199. 
Palmer  Window  Glass  Co.: 

Water  supply  to  Shingle  House,  71. 
Panama  (N.  Y.): 

Description,  98. 
Paner  and  pulp  mills: 

Notes  on  certain  pollutions,  39,  143,  146,  200,  223,  224,  252,  26o. 
Paraffine,  51,  77,  351,  356. 
Parker  (  Parker  City,  Parkers  Landing):  . 

Description,   137;  Distances  along  the  river,  8,  293;   Elevation,   6;   Rainfall,  6, 
142;    Relation    to    the    Petroleum    Industry,    51;    Typhoid    fever    (19H.».    137; 
(1906-1912),    155. 
Parker  City  Water  Co.,  137. 
~P  jirnfissus ' 

Description,  274;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  291. 
Pennsylvania  Water  Co.: 

Notes  on  (and  history),  238,  287,  290,  301; 

Typhoid  fever  in  its  territory  (1905-1906),  288;  (1905-1912),  289;  (1906-19121,  "91,  315. 
Peoples  Water  Co.  (Summerville),  168. 

370 


Permits  and  Decrees  concerning  Sewerage  and  Sewage  Disposal,  by  places.     Those 
starred  have  dismissions  of  policy  or  of  local  or  genera]  conditions: 
Allegheny  City  Home  and  Allegheny  County   Workhouse  (Claremont) ,  287;    Big 
Run  Borough,    L83;   Blairsville,  231;   Brackenridge,  262,   '2';:;,   *284;   Bradford, 
77;  (Brokenstraw  Creek),  *100:  Cambridge  Springs,  131;  Cheswick,  *278,  *270, 
280;  Clintonville,  122;  Corry  (and  tannery  pollutions),  98,  90,  *100;  Cresson, 
201,  203;  Derry,  230;  Du  Bois,  *160;   Easl    Brady,   140;  Ebensburg,  201;  Edin- 
boro,   132;   Emlenton,   122,   *123;    Ford   City,    178;    Franklin,    *119;    Freeport, 
*254,  *255;  (Hare  Creek,  Corry),  *100 ;   Indiana,  220;  Johnsonburg,    L46,  *147 
148;    Kane,   81,    82,    *83 ;    Kittanning,    *176;    Ligonier,    222;    Meadville,    *133; 
Natrona,  *258;  New  Kensington,  *271,  *273 ;  Norwich  (Ooodyear  Lumber  Co  ), 
66;  Oakmont,  *283 ;  Oil  City,  111;  Parker,  L38;  Pleasantville,  *104;  Port.  Alle- 
gany, 61;  Portage,  *202;  Punxsutawney,  *185;   Keynoldsville,   *163;   Bide  way, 
*150;;  St.  Marys,  149;  Saltsburg,  233;  Scalp  Level,  *213,  *2J !  ;  Smethport,  *65; 
South  Bethlehem  (Armstrong),  *170;  South  Fork  Borough,. 206;  Spring  Creek, 
99  (Tannery  wastes,   cf.   Corry);   Springdale,   *277  ;   Stovc.st.own,   *2J0;   Tarcn- 
tum,  *266;  Titusville,   116;  Union  City,  *128 ;  Verona,  *285,  286;    Warren,  86, 
(State  Hospital),   91;   West  Reynolds ville,   *163,   *165;   Wiekboro,    175;   White 
Rock  Land  Co.,  81  (cf.   Kane);  Youngsville,  99,  *100. 
Permits  and   Decrees  relative  to  Water  Supplies  and  Waterworks.     Those  starred 
carry  discussions: 
Jerry  Alwino  (Johnstown),  226;  Brookville,   167;  Cambridge  Springs,  131;  Citi- 
zens Water  Co.    (Kittanning),   176;   Clarion  Water  Co.,    153;   Clymer  Water 
Co.,   (Indiana),  219;   Emlenton  Water  Co.,   122;   Falls  Creek  Borough,   *161 ; 
Foxburg  Water  Works  Co.,  223;  Freeport  Water  Works  Co.,  254,  *256;  Johns- 
town Water  Co.,  226;  Kensington  Water  Co.  (Arnold),  269;  Nant-y-Clo  Water 
Co.,    216;    Natrona   Water   Co.,  -258,    *260 ;    Pennsylvania   Water   Co  ,    *290- 
Pittsburgh,  *299,  *306,  357;  Ridgway,   149,  150;  Roulette  Water  Co.,  60;   St! 
Marys  Water  Co.,  148;  Springdale  Water  Co.,  *275 ;  Stoyestown  Water  Co 
210;  Suburban  Water  Co.   (Oakmont,  etc.),  *281,  *282;  Tarentum  Water  Co. 
(Brackenridge),  *261 ;  Venango  Water  Co.  (Franklin),  119;  Warren  Water  Co 
85;  Waterford  Water  Co.,  130;  W.  E.  Zierden,  146. 
Petroleum — see  Oil. 

Petrolia:    Description,  139;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  155. 
Phillipston:     Distances  along  the  river,  8. 
Pickings  (or  Hays)  Run,  211. 
Pillow  Run  as  a  drainage  channel,  279. 
Pine  Creek  (Clarion  Co.):  Water  power  development,  158. 
Pine  Creek  (Jefferson  Co.):  Water  power  development,  ISO. 
Pine  Run  (Crooked  Creek),  187,  189. 

Pine  Run  (French  Creek):  Water  power  development,  118. 
Pine  woods  in  the  Basin,  38. 

Piney  Creek:  Water  power  development,  143;  Pollution,  152. 
Pipe  works  (Terra  cotta),  53. 
Pitcairn:     Typhoid  fever  (1905-1912),  289. 
Pitch  Pine  Run,  159,  163. 

Pithole  Creek  101;  Distances  along  the  river,  8. 
Pittsburgh : 

Distances  of  various  points  along  the  river,  8;  Elevation  (Arsenal,  North  Side), 
6;  Population,  293 ;— present  and  prospective,  with  reference  to  the  water  sup- 
ply, 308—314;  Rainfall,  6;  Water  consumption,   present  and  prospective,  308, 
310;  Water  supply  (descriptive  and  historical),  299;  Quality  of  the  water  and 
analytical   data,   250,    251,   252,   325-351;    Filtration   plant  and   operation,    diffi- 
culties and  remedial  efforts,  304,   307,   347,  352;   Summary  of  the  survey  with 
reference  to  the  water  supply,  355;  Typhoid  fever,  289,  291,  314-3^4 
Pittsburgh  City  Farm:    Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  291. 
Pittsburgh  and  Lake  Erie  Canal,  118,  126. 
Pittsfield,  95,  96. 

Pleasantville:  Description,  103;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  109. 
Plum  Creek  (Allegheny  Co.),  283,  285. 

Plum  Creek  (Armstrong  Co.),   188,   189;   (Water  power),   190,   191, 
Point  Chautauqua — see  Chautauqua  Association. 

Polk:     Description,   121;  Typhoid  fever  (1903-1908),   121;   (1906-1912),   135. 
Pollutions:     Summary  by  sections  and  sub-basins,  294,  296. 
Populations,   cf.   the  various  places: 

Summary  for  the  principal  cities  and  towns  along  the  river,  293 ; 
Urban  and  rural  for  the  sections  and  sub-basins,  294; 

Sewage  polluting  population  summarized  by  sections  and  sub-hasins,  296. 
Population,   and  in  part  its  density,    of  the  sections  of  the  river  and  various  sub- 
sidiary drainage  areas:  58,  62,  63,  67,  70,  72,  75,  79,  84,  87,  93,  97     10°     106 
109,  113,  125,  136,  142,  155,  172,  179,  189,  191,  193,  194,  195,  244. 
Port  Allegany:    Description,  60;  Chemical  plants,  41,  Population  and  distance  along 

the  river,   293;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  61. 
Portaee:     Description,  201;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  207. 
Porterfield  Island:     Distances  along  the  river,  S. 
Portland  Mills:  Tannery,  143. 
Portville  (N.  Y.):     Description,  68. 


371 


Potato  Creek  (and  its  Drainage  Area*: 

Area  and  distance  along  the  river,  5;  Elevation  and  rainfall,  (i;  Sanitary  Survey 

of   the    Basin,   (i-'i :    Population,    urban   and    rural,    294;    Summary    regarding 

pollutions,  295,  296. 
Potato  Creek  District: 

Conditions  along  the  Allegheny  River,   ~>7,  lil  ;  Urban  and  rural  population,  284; 

Summarj  of  polluting  factors,  296. 
Potter:  Distances  along  the  river,  8. 
Pottery,   el".    Clay   products. 
Powder   factory,   82. 
Powers  Kun — Pollutions,  146. 
Precipitation,  see   Rainfall. 
Pucketta   Creek:   Pish  stocking,  246. 
Pulp,  of.  Paper  mills. 

l'unxsutawney:     Description,   180,   185;  Typhoid   fever  (1906-1912),    187. 
l'uuxsutawney   Water   Co.,    180,   185. 
Putney villo:     Water  power  development,   180. 
Pyroligueous  acid  of  the  chemical  plants,  42. 

Queenstown:   Description,   139. 
Quemahouiug  Creek,  198,  211,  212,  226. 

Railroads: 

Summary  for  the  Basin,  56;  Danger  through  pollution,  56,  294;  Trackage  in  the 
various  sections  and   many  sub-basins,   5S,   62,   64,   68,   70,   73,   7(5,   79,   80,  81, 
84,   88,   94,   97.    1(12.    107,    110,   113,    118,   126,   136,   143,   155,   172,    173,   180,   189, 
191,   197,  245. 
Rainfall: 

General  range  and  relation  to  run-off,  33; 

Influence  on   the  character  of  the  river  water  at  Pittsburgh,  325,  347;   amount 
at  various  places  in  the  Basin,  5,  64,  70,  87,  97,  113.  124,  142,  157,  179,  1S8,  195. 
Ramsey  town: 

Water  supply,  15S. 
Randolph  (N.  Y.),  89. 
Rankin: 

Typhoid  fever  (1905-1912),  289. 
Rayne  Run,  187. 
Reaction,  cf.  Acidity. 
Rebecca  Water  Co.,  201. 
Red  Bank  Creek  (and  its  Drainage  Area): 

Areas,  5,  33;  Distances,  5,  8;  Elevation,  6; 

Acidity,  159;  Discharge  and  Slope,  27,  33,  156;  Rainfall,  6; 

Population,  294;  Coal  production,  46; 

Water  supply,  169;  Sanitary  Survey,  156; 

Summaries  regarding  pollution,  164,  295,  296; 

Water  power  development,   157. 
Red  Bank  Creek  District: 

Conditions  in  the  main  Basin,   136,   155; 

Population  (urban  and  rural),  294; 

Summary  of  polluting  factors,  296. 

Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  155,  171. 
Red  Bank  Dike,  etc: 

Distances  along  the  river,  8. 
Red  House  (N.  Y.),  73;  Gauging  of  the  Allegheny  River,  13,  33. 
Reno: 

Distances  along  the  river,  8. 

Pollutions,  109,  110. 
Reynoldsville: 

Description,  162; 

Tvphoid  fever  (1906-1912),  171. 
Reynoldsville  WTater  Co.,  163,  165. 
Riceville: 

Description,  162. 
Richardville: 

Water  power  development,  157. 
Richburg  (N.  Y.): 

Description,  71. 
Richland  Township  Water  Co.,  213. 
Rickey  Run: 

Water  power  development,  118. 
Ridgway: 

Description,   149;   Elevation,   6; 

Rainfall,  6,  142;  Analvses  of  Elk  Creek  and  Clarion  River  water,  144; 

Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  155. 
Rimersburg: 

Description,   154;  Typhoid  fever  (1908-1912),   155. 
Rimerton: 

Distances  along  the  river,   8. 
Riverview: 

Distances  along  the  river,   8. 

372 


Ringgold: 

Water  power  development,  180. 
Rochester  and  Pittsburgh  Coal  and  Iron  Co.: 

Water  supply  for  Adrian,  181,  184; 

for  Eleanor,  183. 
Rockdale: 

Bacteriological  Analysis  of  Falls  Creek  watei,   16'J 
Rockland: 

Distances   along  the   river,   S. 
Rod  Wax  (cf.  Para Hine),  77. 
Roscdale: 

Description,  227 ; 

Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  236. 
Ross  pumping  station,  304. 
Rossiter: 

Description,  ISO,  184. 
Rosston: 

Distances  along  the  river,   8. 
Roulette: 

Description,  60;  Wastes  partly  utilized,  59. 
Roulette  Water  Co.,  60. 
Rouseville: 

Description,  116; 

Gauging  of  Oil  Creek,  20,  33,  113. 
Roystone: 

Chemical  plant,  106. 
Rummels  Run  as  a  water  supply,  218. 
Run-off: 

Relation  to  precipitation,  33; 

to  forest  conditions,  34. 
Rural  Valley: 

Description,    173; 

Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  187. 
Saegertown: 

Description,    132;   Elevation,   6;   Rainfall,   6,   124;   Mineral   Springs,   54;   Water 
powers,  125,  126,  132;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),   135. 
St.  Charles: 

Discharge  and  drainage  area  of  the  Red  Bank  Creek,  27,  33. 
St.  Clair  Run  as  a  water  supply,  225. 
St.  George:    Distances  along  the  river,  8. 
St.  Marys: 

Description,  148;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),   155. 
St.  Marys  Water  Co.,  148. 
St.  Michael:     Description,  205. 

St.  Petersburg:    Description,  154;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  155. 
Salamanca  (N.  Y.): 

Description,  74;  Distances  along  the  river,  9;  Elevation,  72;  Sewage  pollution, 
66,  73;  Character  of  the  region,  72. 
Salem ville,  224. 
Salix,  205. 
Salmon  Creek,  105. 

Salt  (cf.  Salt  water):  Production  in  the  Basin,  54. 
Salt  Lick  Run  as  a  water  supply,  225. 

Salt  water  of  the  gas  and  oil  wells,  and  as  a  pollution,  51,  52,  114,  117,  153. 
Saltsburg: 

Description,  232;  Elevation  and  rainfall,  6;  Gauging  of  Loyalhanna  Creek,  194. 
Sandstone  of  the  Basin,  53. 

Sandy  Creek,  120,  121;  Water  power  development,  118. 
Sandy  Lake,  120,  121. 
Sandy  Lake  (borough):  Description,  120. 
Sandy  Lake  Water  Co.,  120. 
Sandy  Lick  Creek  (also  old  name  of  Red  Bank  Creek,  156): 

Description  and  pollutions,  160,  161,  163. 
Sandy  Run  as  a  water  supply,  205. 
Sargeant,  Chemical  plant,  143. 
Sartwell,  57. 
Sawmills  and  their  polluting  wastes  (see  Chemical  plants,  Timber):  58,  59,  94,   102, 

115,  127,  133,  223. 
Scalp  Level: 

Description,  213;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  216. 
Schuman  Run  as  a  water  supply,  218. 
Scrub  Grass  Creek,  121. 

Seldersville  Reservoir  as  a  water  supply,  217. 
Seward:     Description,  228;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-19121,  236. 

Sewage  pollutions:     Local   conditions  appear  in   the  description  of  places  and  are 
discussed  in  many  of  the  permits  and  decrees. 

Importance  of  the  stream  flow,  36:  Dangers  from  railroads,  56,  294;  Chart  and 
diagram  to  illustrate  the  relation  to  the  prevalence  of  typhoid  fever,  298,  299; 
Sewase  polluting  population,  summarized  by  sections  and  sub-basins,  296; 
Detailed  for  sections  of  the  Basin  and  for  certain  lesser  drainage  areas:  59, 

373 


62.  04.   68,   69,   7".   73,   74,  76,  80,  84,   88,   94,  97,   107,   110,   114,   127,   136,   144, 
155.  159,  172,  174,  181,  191,  199,  2 
Shades  Kim: 

Distances  along  the  river,  8. 
Shales  of  the  Basin  and  their  industrial  importance,  52. 
Sharpsburg:     Distances  along  the  river  and  population,  8,  293. 
Shawmut:     Water  power  development, 
Sheakleyville:    Description,  120. 

Id:     Description,   108. 
Sheffield  Water  .Co.,   Li  B. 
Sheldon  Brook  as  ;i  water  supply,  65. 
Shelocta:    Description,  190. 
Sherman  (N.  Y.):  Description,   127. 
Shingle  House: 

[ption,  71:  Elevation  and  rainfall,  6;  Water  power,  70;  Typhoid  fever,  72 
Shingle  House    Water   Co.,    71. 
Shipman's  Island:    Distances  along  the  river,  9. 
Shippenville:    Typhoid  fever  (1906  L912),  155. 
Shoups  Run,  see  Tweney's  Run. 
Silicates,   as   filter  cloggers  a1    Aspinwall.   351. 
Silver  Creek  as  a  water  supply,  145,  146, 
Silver  Lake  Run  as  a  water  supply,  L48. 
Silver  Run  pollution ,  207. 
Sinclairville  (N.  Y.):  1  description,  89. 
Siverly: 

Description,    104;    Water  supply,    103;   Analyses  of  river  water,    102;   Typhoid 
fever  (1906-1912),   109. 
Siverly  Water  Co.,  103,  104. 

Six  Mile  Island  Lock:     Distances  along  the  river,  8. 
Slackwatering  of  the  Allegheny,  36. 
Slag  as  a  harmful  waste,  161. 
Sligo: 

Description,  153;  Water  power.  143;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1012),  155. 
Slopes  of  the  Allegheny  River  Channel,  7; 

Notes  for  part  of  the  stream   and   for  certain   tributaries:     58,  61,  75  (Tununga- 
want    Creek),    70   (Limestone    Kails),    li::    (branches    of    Oil    Creek),    lis.    124 
(French  Creek,  etc.),  142  (Clarion  River),  17'.)  (Mahoning  Creek),  188  (Crooked 
Creek). 
Smethport: 

Description,   64,   65;   Elevation,   6:  Rainfall,  6,   64;   Water  power,  64;  Typhoid 
fever  (1906-1912),  67. 
Smethport  Water  Co.,  65. 
Smicksburg: 

Description,  186;  Typhoid  fever  (10061012),  187. 
Snow,  F.  Herbert,  Chief  Engineer,  directing  the  Survey,  1. 
Soil  of  the   Basin   (cf.   Farms):  43,  62,  105,   125,  141. 
Soldier  Run,  pollution,  163. 
Solomon  Run.  pollution,  226,  227. 
South  Bend,  Water  power,  189. 
South  Bethlehem  (Armstrong  Co.):  Description,  169. 
South  Branch  of  French  Creek,  123. 
South  Carrollton  (N.  Y.),  74. 
South  Fork  (borough) : 

Description.  205;  Analyses  of  Little  Conemaugh  River  water,  208;  Discharge  of 
the  Little  Conemaugh  River  and   its   South  Fork,   193;  Typhoid  fever  (1910), 
206;  (1000-1912).  207. 
South   Fork   Water   Co.,   205. 
South  Pittsburgh   Water  Co.,   302,   307. 
South  Vandalia  (N.  Y.):  Chemical  plant,  41,  68. 
Spartansburg:    Description,  114. 
Spr ankle,  Water  power  development,  157. 
Springs,    cf.    Mineral    Springs. 
Spring  Water  Co.   (Kane),  81. 
Spring  Creek  (Elk  Co.):  Chemical  plant,  143. 

Spring  Creek  (Warren  Co.),  95;  Tannery  and  its  wastes,  97,  99. 
Spring  Creek  (stream),  96. 

Description,   274:   Distances  along  the  river.  8,  29.°.;   Elevation  and   rainfall,   6; 

\nalvses   of   Alledienv   River  water,   248,   249;    Navigation   dam,   36;   Typhoid 

fever  (1906-1912),  291. 
Springdale  Water  Co.,  274. 

Spring  Run  (Cambria  Co.,  Black  Lick  Creek),  as  a  water  supply,  217. 
Spring  Run  (Cambria  Co.,  Little  Conemaugh  River):  Pollution,  202. 
Spring  Rum  (Clearfield  Co.).  :,s  ;l  water  supply,  160. 

State   IT    3pital   for  the  Insane,   ef.   Warren. 

State  Institution  for  Feeble  Minded  of  Western  Pennsylvania  (Polk): 

Sanitary  conditions,  121. 
State  Line,  New  York-Pennsylvania ,  Section: 

Conditions  in  the  main  Basin,  72,  73  ;  Population     r.rhan  and  rural,  294. 

374 


State  Lines:     Distances  along  the  river,  9. 
State  Normal  School,  Edinboro  (Sewers),  131. 
Steamboating  in  the  Basin,  aJ,  73,  245. 
Steel  and  Steel  Works,  included  under  Iron. 
Still  Water  Creek,  90. 
Stone  of  the  Basin,  53,  96,  108,  188. 
Stone  Hill  Water  Co.,  117. 
Stoneboro: 

Description,  120;  Coal  mines,  118" ;  Typhoid  fever  (1006-1912),  135. 
Stoneham:    Description,  82;  Tannery  wastes  treated,  84. 
Stony  Creek  (and  its  Drainage  Area): 

General  character,  population,  and  flow,  194;  Acidity,  199;  Analyses,  215;  San- 
itary Survey,  210;  Water  power,  pollutions,  etc.,  198,  210,  211,  212;  Typhoid 
fever  (1006-1912),  216. 
Stony  Run,  200,  219,  220. 
Storage  basins  proposed,  10;  Expected  influence  on  the  hardness  of  the  river  water, 

338. 
Stoyestown: 

Description,  210;  Rainfall,  6;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  216. 
Stoyestown  Water  Co.,  210. 
Straight:     Chemical  plants,   143. 
Stratton  Run,  and  pollution,  152. 
Strattonville:    Description,  152. 
Stream  flow — cf.   Discharge,   etc. 
Struthers:  Chemical  plant  pollutions,  80,  85. 
Strayer  Run  as  a  water  supply,  226. 
Stump  Creek:  Pollution,  182. 
Suburban  Water  Co.,  281,  282,  284. 
Sugar  Camp  Run,  182. 

Sugar  Creek  (Armstrong  Co.):  Pollution,  140. 
Sugar  Creek  (Venango  Co.),  124;  Polutions,  Water  power,  etc.,  135;  Discharge  and 

drainage  area  at  Wyattville,  24,  33. 
Sugar  Creek  (Warren  Co.),  Distances  along  the  river,  9, 
Sugar  Grove: 

Description,  90;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  93. 
Sugar  Run,  Pollution,  238. 
Sulphur  Run,  Pollution,  200,  231. 
Summerhill: 

Description,  204;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  207. 
Summerville: 

Description,  168;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),   171. 
Summerville  Water  Co.,   168. 
Summit  Water  Supply  Co.,  201. 
Swissvale:  Typhoid  fever  (1905-1912),  289. 
Sykesville: 

Description,  182;  Water  supply,  181,  182;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  187. 

Taintor:  Chemical  plant,  41. 
Tanneries  and  their  pollutions: 

General,  39,  40;  Summary  by  sections  and  sub-basins,  296;  Notes  on  conditions 
in  various  places  and   regions:   59,   60,   62,   63,   67,   68,   73,   75,   76,   80,   82,  97, 
98,  99,  106,   107,   109,  127,  141,  142,  143,   146,   149,   150,  158,  159,   160,   161,  164, 
165,   182,  183. 
Tar  of  the  Chemical  plants  (which  also  see),  42,  43. 
Tarentum  (cf.  Natrona,  Brackenridge) : 

Description,  265;  Distances  along  the  river,  8,   293;   Elevation  and  rainfall,  6; 
Analysis  of  Allegheny  River  water,  247;  Typhoid  fever,  259,  266,   268;   (1906- 
1912)     291 . 
Tarentum 'Water  Co.,  261,  265;  Permit,  261. 
Terra  Cotta  tile  and  pipe:  Important  plants,  53. 
Templeton:    Distances  along  the  river,  8;  Sandstone,  53. 
Thompson's  Run:    Distances  along  the  Allegheny  River,  8. 
Tidioute : 

Description,  94;  Distances  along  the  river,  8,  293; 
Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),   101. 
Tidioute  Water  Co.,  94. 
Tidioute  Creek  as  a  water  supply,  94. 
Tile  works,  53. 
Timber: 

Notes  on   the  trees  of   the  Basin,   and   on  lumbering  operations   and   the  inci- 
dental pollutions  (see  also  Chemical  plants),  3/,  38,  58,  63,  79,  87,  93,  94,  96, 
102,  106,  117,  142,  180,  188. 
Tin  plate,  cf.  Iron. 
Tiona,  Oil  refinery,  107. 
Tionesta: 

Description,  95;  Distances  along  the  river,  8;  Discharge  of  the  Allegheny  River 

and  area  of  the  Basin,  94,  102; 
Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  101. 
Tionesta  Water  Supply  Co.,  95. 

375 


Tionesta  Creek  (and  its  Drainage  Area): 

Areas,  .">,   19,  33;   1  distance  along  the  river,  5 :  Gauging,   L9,  33,   L06;   Pain  pro- 
posed,   10;    Sanitary    Survey,    105;    Population,    294;    Summary    of   polluting 
Factors,  39,  40,  41.  296. 
Tionesta  Creek  District: 

Conditions  in  the  main  Basin,  93,   1'  1  :  Population,  mb:iu  and  rural,  294;  sum- 
mary of  pointing  fa 
Titusville: 

D  scription,  115;  Analysis  of  nil  Creek  water,  111;  Relation  to  the  oil  industry, 
.  112;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  117. 
Toppers  linn  as  a  water  supply  .  21 
Townville:    Description,  130. 

Tracey  Run:    Distances  along  the  Allegheny  River,  9. 
Trafford  City:  Typhoid  fever  (1905  1912) ,  289. 
Transportation  (cf.  Navigation,   Railroads),  54. 
Trees  of  the  Basin  (see  also  Chemical  plants,  Timber,  etc.),  37. 
Trout  Run,  as  a  water  supply,  201;   Pollution,   202 
Troutville:     Description,  1821 
Tub  Mill  Creek,  229. 
Tulip  Creek  as  a  water  supply,  2'2\. 
Tunungawant  Creek  land  its  Drainage  Area): 

Area  and  distance  along  the   river.   5;    Slopes,   75;    Population,   294 ;   Sanitary 
Survey.  71:  Summary  of  pollutions,  296. 
Tunungawant  Creek  District: 

Conditions  in  the  main  Basin,  <>7.  7-J ;  Population,  urban  and  rural,  294;  Sum- 
mary nl*  polluting  factors,  296. 
Turbidity  of  the  river  at  Aspinwall,  325,  335. 
Turtle  Creek:     Typhoid   fever  (1905-1912),   289. 
Turtle  Creek  Valley  Water  Co.,  301. 
Tweneys  Run,  2,0. 
Twin  Rocks:    Description,  217. 
Two  Lick  Creek,   193,    L98,  220,  221. 
Two  Mile  Creek  (N.  Y.),  68,  69. 
Two  Mile  Run,  105. 
Typhoid  fever: 

General   summary   (and   diagram)   of  its  occurrence   in   the   Basin    (relation   to 

population  and  sewage  pollution),  298; 
In  Pittsburgh,  and  in  relation  to  filtration,  314-324; 

Deaths  in  various  American  cities  in  1911  with  reference  to  the  rank  of  Pitts- 
burgh, 321;  Cases  reported,  and  notes  of  certain  epidemics,  for  various  see 
tions  and  places.  N.  B.— The  larger  sectional  reports  are  also  noted  in  the 
T  ble  of  Contents:  61,  07,  72.  78,  84,  93,  101,  109,  117.  121,  135,  L37,  145,  149, 
150,  154,  167,  17!.  17:..  187,  192,  206,  207,  216,  222,  225,  229,  236,  244,  254, 
266, .268,  269,  270,  289,  291,  292. 

Union  City:    Description,  128;  Typhoid  fever  (19061912),  135. 
Unite. 1  Coal  Co.:   Water  supply  for  Anita,  181,  184. 
Utica:    Description,  135. 

Vandergrift: 

Description,  238:  Analyses  of  Kiskiminetas  River  water,  241,  242,  243;  Typhoid 

fever  (1906-1912),  244. 
Vandergrift  Water  Co.,  23S,  239. 

Vandergrift  Heights:     Description,  239;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  214. 
Velocity  in  the  Channel  of  the  Allegheny  River  and  its  calculation,  7. 
Venango:     Description,   132;  Typhoid   fever  (1906-1912),    L35. 
Venango  Water  Co..  119. 
Verona  (cf.  Oakmont): 

Description,  284;  Distances  along  the  river,  8,  293;  Analyses  of  Allegheny  River 

water,  248,  249;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  291. 
Vintondale:    Description,  217;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  222. 

Walnut  Bend:     Distances  along  the   river,   S;    Lumber   industry,    102. 

Wan  m-   set   Claremont. 

Warren: 

Desc  ipti   a,  -"•:  Distances  along  the  river.  9,  293;  Elevation,  6;  Rainfall,  6,  87; 
to  the  oil  industry,  51;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  93. 
Warren  (State  Hospital  for  the  Insane): 

Water  supply  and  sewerage,  91. 
Wastes.    Industrial    (cf.    Chemical    plants,    Coal    mines.    Cokeries,    Iron    industries, 

nil  production.  Tanneries,  etc.),  39,  43,  47,  48,  49,  200. 
Water  power: 

Notes  concerning  various  developments:    25,  54,  •"•v:.  64,  68,  70,  7::,  75,  87,  88,  97, 

113,   115,  116,  lis,  125,  126,  143,  149,   166,   168,  180,  189,  196,  204,  210, 

231,  245. 

Water  supplies.    See  the  description  of  places  and  names  of  water  companies.    Also 

appear  summarily  in  the  description  of  each  section  of  the  main  basin  and  in 

the  sanitary  survey  of  subsidiary  streams. 


Water  supply  of  Pittsburgh,  descriptive  and  historical,  200;  present  and  prospective 

in  relation  to  population,  308-314. 
Waterford:     Description,  130. 
Waterford  Water  Co.,   130. 
Wattsburg:    Description,  127. 
Wehrum:     Description,  218. 

West  Apollo:    Acidity  of  the  Kiskiminetas  River,  100. 
West  Bethlehem:    Typhoid  fever  (1006-1012),  171. 
West  I  >ol i par:    Description,  220. 
West:  Creek,  127. 
West.   End:     Description,  111. 
West  End  Water  Co.,  HI. 

West  Hickory  Creek:    Distances  along  the  Allegheny  River,  8. 
West  Kittanning:    Description,  17.'. ;  Typhoid  fever  (1006-1012),  IS7. 
West  Leechburg,  240;  An;  lysis  of  Kiskiminetas  River  water,  243,  244. 
West  Millville,  now  Hawthorne,  g.  v. 
West  Reynoldsville:     Description,  165;  Water  supply,  158;  Sewerage,   163;  Typhoid 

fever  (11)00-1912),  171. 
West  Salamanca  (N.  Y.),  74. 
Wcs!  line:     Chemical  plant  pollutions,  80. 

Westmont:     Description,   227;   Typhoid   fever   (1906-1912),   236. 
"Westmoreland  Furnace",  49. 

Westons  (N.  Y.):     Water  power  development,  68. 
Wetmore:  Chemical  plant,  106. 

Whetstone   Run,  as  a  water  supply,  152;  Analysis  of  the  water,   144. 
Whipple  Creek  as  a  water  supply,  160. 
White  House  (N.  Y.):     Tannery,  68. 
White  oak  in  the  Basin,  38. 

White  Rock  Land  Co.  (Kane,  q.  v.):    Permit  regarding  sewage,  81. 
White  Rock  Station,  see  Johnetta. 
White  Spring  Run:    Pollution,  220. 

Wickbqro:     Description,  175;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  187. 
Wilcox:    Tannery,  40. 
Wildcat  Run  as  a  water  supplv,  225. 
Wilkinsburg:    Tvphoid  fever  (1905-1912),  289. 
Wilmerding:    Typhoid  fever  (1905-1912),  289. 
Wilmore:    Description,  204. 
Windber:    Description,  212;  Acidity  of  streams,  etc.,  199;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912) 

216. 
Windber  Water  and  Power  Co.,  213. 
Wolf  Creek  as  a  water  supply,  160. 
Wolf  Lick  Run  as  a  water  supply,  148. 
Wood  alcohol,  Method  of  making,  42. 
Woodcock:     Description,  132. 

Woodcock  Creek:     Water  power  development,  126. 
Wood  naphtha,  see  Wood  alcohol. 
Wood  pulp,  see  Paper  mills. 

Woolen  mills  and  wastes,  88,  158,  163,  164,  197,  200,  223,  237,  252. 
Worthington:      Description,    257;    Elevation    and    rainfall,    6;    Water-  power,    245: 

Tvphoid  fever  (1906-1912),  171. 
Worthville:   Description,   168;   Typhoid  fever  (1903-1912),    171. 
Wyattville:    Discharge  and  drainage  area  of  Sugar  Creek,  24,  33. 

Yatesboro:     Description,  173;  Typhoid  fever,  187. 

Yellow  Creek,   193,  220. 

Yellow  pine  in  the  Basin,  38. 

Youghiogheny  River:     Studies  of  the  relation  of  the  acidity   to   the  bacterial  con- 
tent, 297;  Pollution,  223. 

Youngstown:     Description,  223;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),  225. 

Youngsville:     Description,  99;  Discharge  and  drainage  area  of  Brokenstraw  Creek 
18;  Typhoid  fever  (1906-1912),   101. 


377 


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(378) 


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